Oil and Water Don't Mix All That Well.

The European Flags aloft outside of the
Berlaymont in Brussels, the European
Union's version of the White
House in Washington, D.C.

Some 66 years after the Third German Reich fell to the Allied Powers, the current Federal Republic of Germany has managed to do what no one would ever expect: conquer another nation without the need for its Bundeswehr (federal army). But it's done so under the guise of the European Union and through its economic might. First, the Greeks are no longer able to hold their leaders to account, since the current emergency has prompted the E.U. to appoint new leaders. Then the Irish, then the Portuguese, now Italy. I guess the Germans finally got their wish to conquer Europe, although they did it with pens and bank accounts rather than by force of arms. With the economic crisis in Europe only growing more troublesome, it's perhaps only a matter of time before something drastic might be necessary. What was previously unthinkable - like say, a military occupation by a resurgent Germany in another member state of the European Union - could actually come to pass rather quickly. But the better question is if the European Union would ever allow for the German Bundeswehr to invade another country for the purpose of keeping that member state within the Union.

Writing at the Cafe

Tonight I wrote at the Cafe for about an hour. In that time, whilst listening to the comings and goings of the local patrons (unfortunately this included the giggling of teenaged excitement and longing for university life), I managed to finish the First Act to my novel-in-progress. My beverage of choice during this process was a Caffe Americano. It was, and still is, delicious.

With the First Act of the manuscript finished, I hope to begin and soon complete, the Second Act.

It took two months and fifteen days, two and a half months to the day, to finish the First Act. Will I get the whole manuscript finished by the end of the Summer as originally planned? Probably not even close.

But the bigger question remains: Is this Second Draft going to be readable and marketable? Will there actually be anyone that finds this story and my writing ability, such as it is, worth the time? I'd like to think that I write in my head first and that flows directly to the page in longhand (I never write digitally, it takes the fine art of sketching letterforms (Typography or perhaps better described in this case as Calligraphy) away and doesn't allow for the mind to fully concentrate solely on the story and the story's characters.

My feeling is that even though the writing plays well on the page, it might not have a tone that everyone will enjoy. It's magisterial and rather formal, perhaps even didactic at times. The protagonist is a war hero, a general, and a scholar. He's overseen massacres and naval battles. So he's seen and done a lot in his relatively short career, and he's paid the price for it.

I do believe that this current draft has added more depth to his past, the story that he's giving account for, and I think I've done it in a good way. The point in the First Act is to have a bit of fun with building the world the protagonist is familiar with, or rather revealing it to the reader as he experienced it. I hope it will be something accessible and yet something with depth.

This novel, as one of my friends might agree (if he ever should read it and find it a piece of art worth calling a work of literature), "Is not for the kids."

Peace.

Going to the Cinema for Harry Potter 7.2!!!!

I'm going to go to the cinema tonight for the midnight showing of "Harry Potter: The Deathly Hollows: Part 2," with the lads. By lads, I probably only mean Matt, but not sure. But the point is, I've never actually seen all of the Harry Potter films all the way through.

I have seen the fifth and sixth films, along with "The Deathly Hollows: Part 1," yet I've never seen the first four films, only bits and pieces of them.

The books were never something I enjoyed reading, really. I much prefer Tolkien to Rowling any day.

But I'm sure this film will be enjoyable to watch, since I can't say that I hated the Harry Potter films that I have seen.

Plus, I hear there is a trailer attached to the beginning of the film for "The Dark Knight Rises." I'm rather excited about that!

Peace!

British Spiderman Bubble Butt

So the new Spiderman, one Andrew Garfield born in Los Angeles to a British mother from Essex (his family is Jewish) whose family later moved to Guildford when he was three years old, has a very nice bubble butt.

I'm looking forward to the new Spiderman film, mostly because I hated the idea of Peter Parker being cast as the stereotypical nerd and or geek. It's true, I suppose, that Peter Parker is that kind of person, yet not all of his portrayals in the comics placate to that mentality. MTV developed a fun little Spiderman show of only one or two seasons after the original Spiderman film in 2002 that had the perfect example of who Peter Parker is and also just how hot the character could have looked if a better choice of actor had been chosen.

But all that beside, now we have a new and incredible actor to play Spiderman who happens to have one of the sexiest butts in the cinema industry. I would like to now give his butt the new moniker of "Spider-butt." I've seen a few of his other films, like "The Social Network" and  "Never Let Me Go," and both of them were very well done pieces of cinema.

Having said all that, I'm looking forward to the new Spiderman!

Peace.

Women's World Cup

The Women's World Cup (FIFA) is currently playing.

At the half, the U.S. had 1 goal to its credit with France at 0. This should be interesting to watch.

I love Football!!!!

Peace.



The U.S. women's soccer team, including quarter-finals game tier Abby Wambach and goalie Hope Solo, plays France in the World Cup semifinals on Wednesday.

iPhone 5

I need the iPhone.

Currently, I have an LG Chocolate Touch, since at the time I got it, the iPhone wasn't on contract with Verizon.

But now the iPhone has arrived, and I have about 2 months left before I can join the rest of the civilized world in driving up Apple's stocks.

The iPhone 5 is most likely the version of the device that I'll get, but as I mentioned, it won't be available until somewhere around mid-October of 2011. The image to the left is a possible concept of the new iPhone that introduces 90 degree corners, along with a larger 4-inch touch screen.

In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy my Apple Macbook Pro!

Peace.

European Union Anthem