Are you a film addict?

Film Addict takes the top 250 films on IMDB and quizzes you on how many you've seen. I scored a reasonably respectable 45.6%.  Compare your score.

(thanks to Jason)

Yes, He Did!

President-Elect Barack Obama's speech last night in Chicago. 

The picture that speaks a thousand words (and 250 billion dollars)

(from Boing Boing)

Presidential Debates 1.0

This week see the final of three televised debates between Barack Obama and John McCain ahead of the US Presidential Election on November 6th.

Obama has shaded the two events so far, although McCain has had a couple of moments in each that would give his support something to hang onto. With previous research suggesting that many US voters watch all these events before finally deciding who to vote for, Thursday will be vital to both candidates.

The fact remains though that the candidate that all politicians should aspire to be is Bill Clinton. It’s not just a matter of his politics, because as this paper published in the Scientific American sets out, he was a master of communication to a degree unsurpassed by any other living politician.

Having an impressive natural ability is one thing, but using this to its full potential by having an eye for detail and a commitment to preparation is simply extraordinary. To understand greatness in most fields of life is understand that most of the single actions of great people are easily understood, but the greatness comes from an ability to put them all together and have an understanding of the entire context of your work and how individual actions contribute to it.

I’ve had the honour to see Clinton once in person, when he was at Westminster at an event with Nelson Mandela and Tony Blair. I was outside on the rope line with a huddle of devotees ranging from cleaners to junior Ministers, and there was a real sense of excitement about their appearance together. Blair, as usual, was charismatic and radiant, and Mandela, even though he was by this point an elderly man who needed a little assistance to his car, Clinton had the presence of a real superstar.

The fact that he worked on this type of presentation over and above employing his natural abilities is why he’s the greatest politician of his generation.

FrankenBurger

This is just scary.  

The burger on the left is 12 years old. 

(pic from bestwellnessconsultant.com)

Crisis? What Crisis?

Debbie and I have been discussing at great length what course of action we should follow around getting our house move sorted out.  My house has been on the market since the end of May, and as we hadn't had a single viewer at one of our open viewings (Thursdays 7-8, Sundays 2-4, or contact our solicitor for an appointment) we've reduced the price we want by over 15%.  So things haven't been going well. 

Following a turbulent financial week, and everything that's been happening in the financial markets and the banking world in the last few days, I wouldn't have thought that things were looking up for the wider economy either. 

So I'm not sure what to make of the fact that we've had two viewers round to see the flat today. 

Crisis, what crisis? ;) 

My emotional track record

My emotional track record is fairly well established.  I'm a greeter.  

Sob-stories on the X-Factor, the wedding scene in Father of the Bride, the bit at the end of the Undercover Millionaire when they hand over the money.  I've cried at them all.

But there are only 3 times that I can recall in my life when I've been moved to tears by music:

1. When John Squire played the opening chords of 'Waterfall' at his last gig before he left the Stone Roses at Wembley Arena.  We were supposed to be in some of the worst seats in the venue, but skipped into the VIP area, then managed to get into the crowd at the front, and got right up to the barrier. They started with 'I Wanna Be Adored', then did 'She Bangs the Drums', then 'Waterfall'.  I cried, and embraced the guy next to me, who was in an equally emotional state.  Greetin' and hugging strangers.  That was the 1990's for you.

2. When Sheena sang 'My love is like a red, red rose' at my wedding last year.  'Nuff said. 

3.  On Tuesday on the No. 5 bus going up Leith Street in Edinburgh at 7.30am on my way to work.  Listening  to Glasvegas sing 'Geraldine'. I have listened to nothing but their album for three days now, it is truly awesome. 

Kirk Broadfoot: Scotland Hero

"Limited ability" now seems to include an ability to play at both right back and centre half for your country in the same game, make a series of decent runs and crosses, and score with a header from a corner...... 

But last night may have lasting ramifications for Scotland beyond the short-term of this qualifying campaign.  All over Scotland, I can imagine our football mad youth waking up and saying:

"Mummy, when I grow up, I want to be just like Kirk Broadfoot".

Reality Check

Affter reading this article in Wired, I thought that Leland Chee had the coolest job in the world. 

This was the antidote.

Hypocrites

I'm a huge fan of Jon Stewart and the Daily Show, and this video is why:

Sometimes politicians and politics get an unfair hearing from the media, but most of the time they deserve it.  Everyone on this video deserves it.