The decade America failed.

EDIT: looks like I might be wrong.

I've seen a lot of people asking what this decade should be called, or will be called in future. Answers varied but I think I can sum up the decade quite well: When America failed.

America has long been the worlds only super power, now they may have not always done the right thing but they tried and so did we (UK) and that counts for something in my books. It might not be too popular but I'm glad we are one of the countries that actually chooses to do something rather than be like, for example France or Russia who are all too happy to pocket bribes in exchange for vetoing UN action. But alas, my despair when I think about the UN is a subject for another day, or is it? No? Ok, I hate the UN! The most powerful countries in our world, millions of people united together and what do we do? Sit around and talk about the issues and avoid actually doing anything at all - doesn't help you have corrupt countries with their own agenda as well.

Anyway, got a little side tracked. America, the world only super power and proclaimed world police are failing. You can't run a super power, run two wars and deal with a financial crisis - it's impossible and America has proved this. 70 trillion dollars in debt, a number which is barely even comprehensible, as, put it this way, if you withdrew that from an ATM, 1) you would be waiting for years for it all to come out the machine and 2) If you wanted to count and see if you got given the right amount you would spend your whole life doing that.

America can no longer afford two wars, it must and will pull back. America will lose it's reach of power and will no longer be a super power. What will happen then? As always, when a leader is removed there will be a rush as other would be leaders who have suffered under the boot try to take his place and if history can teach us anything it's that the benefactor is usually worse.

Who will rise to the challenge then? Probably China and who knows, in 100 years the west might be a whole lot different.

Up

So I saw Up the other day and damn, it's a good film.

Up is another one of Disney & Pixar's masterpieces, the saddest film I have ever seen but a real heartwarming story all the same.

The tale follows an old man, he promised his wife when they were children he would take her to South American. Life happens and they never get there, his wife dies. Instead of letting his house and all his memories of the life he had be destroyed by the corporate suits who wish to build apartment buildings, etc he ties a brazzilion balloons to his house with the plan of floating down to South America to live out his days and fulfil his promise to his dead wife.

His plan however, doesn't work out exactly how he envisioned it.

Packed with laughs and tears, Up is brilliant - go watch it!

P.s. It's also available to watch is standard 2D or with 3D goggles.

To infinity and beyond

To those who have an interest in space and NASA You might be aware that NASA have been designing and will be testing the new Ares rocket system on the 31st of October. I'm sure everyone the world over wishes the Ares testing to be successful, although I'm sure some people will probably be hoping for a nice fireworks display fortunately no human life would be lost in such an event. October 31st is the first real world testing of their new rockets.



Anyway, I got to thinking after I saw the pictures of the Ares. It looks pretty standard, the actually aesthetics are pretty usual. It looks like a rocket. Now, I think, If we are putting things up into space, we gotta' represent! Earth is represented by the things we are sticking out into orbit and beyond. If an alien species observes us they are going to judge us first by our adventures into space. So instead of the generic rocket design why don't we create some aesthetically awesome rocket and shuttle designs. Such as Barad-dûr rocket and a scorpion style shuttle.

Such designs would clearly send a message to aliens not to fuck with earth. It is the best anti invasion counter measures I can think of and please if you can think of any better, tell me. It could have the opposite effects though and be seen as a galactic challenge of interstellar power...

I was holding off publishing this until I could photoshop a picture of a Barad-dûr rocket with awesome scorpion on the back but unfortunately I have had the misfortune of my laptop failing on me so I'm adobe photoshopless for the time being.

Mystery coin update

A few weeks or months ago I did a piece on a Bulgarian coin I have. Thanks to the Reddit community it's been identified as:

"This is a commemorative coin to mark The International Congress of Marscheiders that took place in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) in 1988. Judging by the material it is made of - it is probably a 1 kopeyka denomination (1 cent)

Alexander Baklanov ( БАКЛАНОВ ) is a coin mint master in the late 1980s, 1990's."

Many thanks to the Reddit community and most notably Dubon for the help.

Sam

Obama's lies

This is gonna be a short one, I just want to voice my opinion on the Obama situation. Most notably peoples comments on his change of heart regards certain key campaign areas, e.g. closing Guantanamo.

During Obama's campaign he was only open the public level information and whatever else he can get his hands on.

When Obama entered office he became privy to higher level information regarding the country. It shows strong character to go back on his word. He used his head, read and listened to the information and then made his mind up.

Clearly Guantanamo does a good job and is essential, otherwise, Obama would have shut it down. Have some faith in your leader America.

I'm sure if the US government showed some transparency in certain areas it would make the American people a lot happier. Instead we have people with no understanding of what's going on apart from a few scraps of media twisted 'news' forming strong ideas and notions of how corrupt and evil their government is.

America - it's in the interest of national security to tell the people more. Don't keep them in the dark relying on Fox news.

Sam

My next review

Seeing as I have started doing a couple of book reviews I think I shall cary on the trend.

As I'm a lazy bastard, the order in which I will be reading books is in a rather unprofessional manner of, the smallest books first.

New reviews coming friends.

Also, an article about visiting Amsterdam will be posted at some point next week.

Take it easy, enjoy the summer.

Sam

The Book With No Name.

Due to an upcoming trip that would no doubt be mind numbingly boring i browsed my shelf for a book I had yet read. I decided on The Book With No Name, I'm not sure why; probably something to do with the rather cool name and nice cover artwork - two very important features for me.

Set in Santa Mondega, a city that the rest of the modern world would rather forget, shit is going down. The only interesting and unique feature that Santa Mondega has to separate it apart from the other dead end cities is it's peculiar lunar cycle. Santa Mondega has a full solar eclipse every 5 years.

A mythical stone: The Eye of the Moon, has been stolen by a vicious bounty hunter from the monks that guard it and has arrived in Santa Mondega. Two monks have set out to return it, five years ago the same happened - the two monks then never returned.

As the thugs, lowlifes, bounty hunters and gangsters fight for the valuable stone, the Bourbon Kid is back.

I loved this book, The many characters and plots merged together seamlessly: Two defectives trying to get to the bottom of what's going on, foreign monks trying to get the stone back to the safety of their island, the bounty hunter who has promised the gang boss of Santa Mondega the stone and has his life at stake as a result are just a few of the characters who have been thrown together in the pestle and mortar that is Santa Mondega.

Riddled with violence like bullet holes in the tapioca bar. The Book With No Name leaves you on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen next - I ended up going to sleep post 2AM, three nights in a row due to this book.

A very, VERY, enjoyable read. Brilliant from the start through to the end, the only problem was I couldn't read fast enough! upon recollection I think this book would translate to film very well, it's not a very big book.

If you are looking for a modern fantasy, with a crime and investigation twist and lots of violence then you can't go wrong with The Book With No Name.

Definitely worth a read.

5/5


Here's a referral link to Amazon if you are interested:

The Steel Remains

This book was one of my Borders impulse buys and I have to say, I wasn't disappointed.

Richard Morgan has built himself a bit of a name as a sci-fi writer and this was his first go at a traditional fantasy novel. Unfortunately the Sci-fi fans in general seem a bit disappointed that it's a traditional fantasy rather than a space romp but alas, it is a pretty good first fantasy novel, in what hopefully is a trilogy at the least.

I wasn't disappointed but I had better clarify; I wasn't disappointed at the end. I did feel however that the start was rather weak, fortunately it got progressively stronger towards the finish ending on a very strong note that just left me wanting more.

Morgan has a nice writing style, he's not afraid to be blunt, say things as they are and be as crude as possible and I like that. What I didn't like however was Morgans lack of detail in certain areas. I assume this is to build a sense of mystery and lure readers in, I however got frustrated with it very quickly and just felt cheated.

For example:

1) The main character Ringil will have a 'flashback' of sorts, he will be half way through visualising what happened and then the train of thought and story is just dropped.

2) Throughout the whole story we are told he is the hero of Gallowsgap. I would have liked some information on what Ringil did, little scraps are given here and there but there were plenty of opportunities for the story to be told in full.

The Steel Remains was a very enjoyable book, definitely worth a read if you can battle past the rather boring start you are in for a treat.

Note to readers: This book has a strong theme of violence, coarse language and scenes of a sexual nature.

3/5