Granted the next episode of The Hobbit isn't due out until December of this year, but I felt like watching the first one. I have a feeling that I am going to end up liking this trilogy more than the Lord of the Rings trilogy; to me it seems to have a more real fantasy feel to it than the other trilogy, if that makes any sense. Kind of like how I write that 80's fantasy film seem more realistic, at least in a magical/fantasy way than most recent film tend to. I really do not know what they are going to do in the 3rd film since I am assuming that Smaug meets his end at the end of the second film, just a guess though. I am more intrigued to see where Sauron, aka the Necromancer, ends up at the end of the trilogy, aside from returning to Barad-dur (the place where all of the dark clouds and lava are). Yes I am just a little bit of a Lord of the Rings geek, but I know far more about Star Wars. Anyways. I had the day off because I am working this Saturday, which was very lovely; I think it will be a fantastic way to break up the week, and after all I am used to working on the weekend. Having a day off during the week will be just lovely. I didn't do much, or rather I didn't get as much done as I was hoping for, but I suppose I am taking all of this week in since I have no classes until next week if I am correct. It's amazing how much extra time I have when not having to worry about homework or school, even though it is all online. I finished watching season 1 of Continuum and boy was that awesome! I really, really enjoyed all of the different plot turns and ideas. The characters are good and compelling, and I do have to say that the politics makes for an interesting thought thinker. If you like science fiction, then I highly recommend this series. I've made some comments about the U.S. government shutdown, and I would like to clarify my position a little further; why do I say that the shutdown was good, because America's heritage is and always will be "I pick myself up by own boostraps" culture and I firmly believe in that perspective. American culture and ideology is that of the Cowboy who survives and makes his own way; it wasn't the government that tamed the West, it was simple, everyday men and women who fought and worked hard to create better lives for themselves and their families. It wasn't until President Franklin D. Roosevelt started believing that the government should start taking care of people, then President Johnson carried it on with "The Great Society," and several presidents since then have continued expanding the "federal" government's role in taking care of the American people. This is why I say the shutdown was a good thing; it should remind people that before a forceful and intrusive federal government, state governments were able to take care of themselves and the people who lived there. Good, solid state governments are important, but I don't trust an even stronger and more powerful centralized/federal government. Just something to consider. I read an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal today about Saudi Arabia. I don't know how many of you keep track of world politics, or how much you know about how the U.N. functions, but the short of it is that Saudi Arabia turned down a seat on the U.N. Security Council to protest the organization's tepid response to the butchery occurring in Syria by Bashar al Assad. It is one of the most prestigious and powerful councils to be a part of on the U.N. and them turning it down has shocked the world's elite cutthroats. Another reason that they cited for turning down the position is to protest China and Russia's threat to veto any measure to force Assad out of Syria, or to impose military intervention (both China and Russia are permanent members on the Security Council and are amongst the few who carry veto power, Saudi Arabia would have been only given a 2 year period on the Council). Saudi Arabia is an oppressive Islamic state that severely limits the freedom of its people, and they govern oftentimes mercilessly, but I was impressed by this statement of their's. Hopefully more nations will join suit in saying that China and Russia do not yet rule the world or dictate what is to be done in it. If all of that seemed like a another language to you, then I suggest reading a newspaper or watching the news; unknowledgeable people soon become easily fooled people. There I am done with my soap box for tonight. Have an excellent week everyone!Desolation of Smaug latest trailer
Frozen trailer (looks fairly humorous, especially the snowman)
