Well it’s true. On Valentine’s Day I went to see Munich, which is hardly the most romantic film in the world and probably not the thing to take your girlfriend too. It’s the story of the massacre of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in 1972 by Palestinian terrorists and the subsequent vengeance killings organised by Golda Meir and Israel’s government. Essentially the message was the futility of such a plan because for every person you assassinate there will be plenty more to take his or her place, all you’ve accomplished is more death, more bloodshed and more bitter revenge. Both sides believe they’re fighting for the right to call a land their home, a feeling you can deeply appreciate if not truly understand.
I also discovered during the film that I can blame my mum for my dark sense of humour. There’s a scene where two men are attempting to assassinate a wealthy Arab and are hiding in his garden ready to take aim. My mum sees the swimming pool and leans over to me whispering “It’s Michael Barrymore’s party!” Soon enough, the pool did end up containing a dead body 
Right, on Wednesday it was great to meet up with some friends from school again. We planned to go bowling but finding it fully booked ended up watching Fun with Dick and Jane – the new comedy starring Jim Carrey. It’s… an odd little film. I definitely enjoyed watching it but that’s not to say it was actually a good movie, in fact, I wouldn’t have said they were even trying particularly hard to make a coherent film in the first place. Until five seconds ago when I looked it up on IMDB I didn’t know it was a remake which may go some way to explain this. I think this would have actually been the perfect Valentine’s Day film simply because couples could spend half the time snogging at the back, then watch a few scenes and not feel like you’ve missed much. (Dominic’s Valentine’s Day tips will not be a regular feature of this blog.)
Basically – if you want to go and see a good film, see Munich. If you need something to pass the time and don’t mind a rather cartoony plot, Dick and Jane might be more your thing. If you think combining these two films into some kind of slapstick massacre film would be interesting, you’ve officially sunk to my depths. Well, Fabio and I. Oh it was good to go into full force religious mocking again without fear of a fatwa, but I did get a very odd look from a woman pushing a buggy on the way back home when I joked that we were glorifying terrorism (we weren’t, don’t worry) rather too loudly. She just turned round and gave me that “I’m reporting you to the Daily Mail” stare that shut me right up. 
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A little while ago I stumbled across Ebon Musings. It’s a very well argued Atheist site with nicely written essays so I sent the author a note to say so. Well, while I was in New York an email landed in my inbox to announce the launch of Daylight Atheism – his new project in blog form.
I’m always wary of ever acting like Atheism is some sort of cult, with binding beliefs or philosophies. It’s not a group and it’s not a movement, and there can’t be any leader or structure, because it’s not a religion – it’s just a state of belief. So I’m not at all promising that it will reflect my own views (although chances are they’ll be pretty close ). That disclaimer aside: go check it out. Worth reading, especially as written by an American who finds himself in an increasingly fundamentalist country.
And on a totally different note – I fulfilled a lifetime ambition today and bought a copy of Broadcast, ‘the weekly newspaper of the television and radio industry.’ Hurrah! I missed the news about FilmFour launching on Freeview in July too. 
Well, it seems to be a Babble tradition that has carried on into RV:Blog so I might as well join in. I’m in the Apple store in Brent Cross and everything’s white and funky and glowing. Oooh I want to walk around and play with Appley things now 
Next to me a sales person seems to be doing well. “We’re not leaving without buying one of these!” He’s demonstrating Spotlight. Microsoft really needs to hurry up with Vista!
Edit – Big screens. Big screens!
Heya blog! I’m back! Yes – came back from the Big Apple on Friday morning and managed to avoid the effects of jet lag by staying up like normal. Before we get to the most-requested photos it’s time for some observations about New York! Firstly – it’s not America! OK, maybe it is, but it’s very Londony too. I’m talking about the public transport, the lack of fat people walking around (sorry – stereotype but hey ) and all sorts of little touches that reminded me of home.
There are differences, of course. In London you sometimes wander into the road, decide you won’t make it and go back to the pavement. In New York, oh no you don’t! By the time you’re in the middle of the gigantic crossings you’re a million miles from the sidewalk so you might as well plough on and avoiding getting run over by the ubiquitous yellow taxis.
American TV is also… shit. Don’t get me wrong, they make some great programmes, but it’s still unwatchable due to the constant adverts. Fox News also stuck me as not only horrible, but really unprofessional too. And they have no idea how to interview without you hearing both people talking at once.
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Manhattan Skyline
It is a school thing, but it’s going to be so much fun. I’ve got my shipment of dollars right here (it feels like Monopoly money! hehe!) ready to spend in the city that never sleeps. I don’t really know many people who are going, but it’s a small group (under twenty people) and they all seem very nice so I’m sure we’ll get along. And if not, we’re in New York! Who cares?!
Oh and Alex, I’m sure I’ll run into you. There are only, what, 19 million people? Watch out for me
Incidentally, teachers wishing to send me homework should use the contact form here. Yes, I’ve already had people saying they’ll do that. But don’t expect I’ll get anything done on the plane!
Right right… I’ve got to Americanise myself. We’ve already been warned that they take tipping rather more seriously than us, and that people on the subway don’t have the same London instinct to stay quiet and stare at the middle distance right between other passengers when travelling. Oh – and that in New York, you have to be 21 to drink and that yes, they do enforce that and yes, you will get in trouble if you break it. Apparently.
We get back on Friday morning. Not sure if they’ll be blogs in the meantime, but have a lovely week anyway
Incidentally – when is the visa waiver form going to stop asking if I was a Nazi?
Linda Moffitt on Colombia: “Such a sweet memory of the four of you meeting up in Colombia!” Dec 2, 07:42
