Review Binge

I'm sorry for the word binge- it's ugly and I don't like it but I've been intending to review a number of things; only each time something new happens and it's all snowballed now. But I have a lovely lazy post-coursework weekend so I think it is time.

Going backwards from Now:

I have finally, after much dithering, decided that going to Bangladesh is the right choice. Mainly because I know Scrooginess is what's holding me back and I don't want any Christmas ghosts visiting. So it looks like I'll be leaving Christmas day insha'allah and hopefully the world will look very pretty and twinkly from up in the plane. I do like all this winter sparkle. Yay! I get to go to weddings 4 & 5! Sorry Boz, that's what they're called.

Speaking of sparkle, Tab's Spectacular concept is sounding wonderful. I was feeling a bit sad that our big YMS dream wasn't quite getting off the ground but if this is a smash then we're all good. (Btw Tab, it was Mrs C who advised I shouldn't let it stop me from going to B'desh, though I'm sure you'ld say the same, it's not like using paltry exams as an excuse)

As for Harry Potter- I don't want to recount the sad (in many senses) story that resulted in my watching it so late- but it was The Most Magical. It actually looked real- I could just accept the underwater task and Voldemort's rebirth and everything. Wow, Voldemort was terrifying. And I felt worse about Cedric than I did when I read it. I thought I'd heard and read every review and it might be overhyped- plus I saw way too many clips- but it still topped my expectations which after PoA were pretty low. For The Review click here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/arabellasq/2377.html#cutid1

On the other hand I saw City of God last weekend at the C's and that is just on an entirely different level of amazing. It's no magical fantasy world but anyone who can handle the brutality watch it- it's unbelievable.

I ought to do a proper review of the Chechnya conference but I'm not sure how to present it so I'll think on it first...

The Chinese dude's Arabic calligraphy workshop- I can only shake my head in wonder at his skill. He'd do something you'ld expect to take hours as a mere five-second illustration of how a certain pen works. I'll put a picture up of my prize for writing the best noon on the board (compared to two others) Sure it wasn't much of a competition but I got my name written out beautifully so it looks like a bird. And Dude, I thank you for pushing me to do it and for shouting out that mine was the winner so it was a short step for him to agree to it :)

Hope that'll satisfy y'all for a little while!

Ps. I have successfully drawn Ray into the Firefly fold. The rest of you don't know what you're missing but I won't try to convince you anymore- I just needed someone to share quotes and references with. What's called 'common ground' if you want to get technical.