Lost: The Final Series, what is going to happen!

If you’ve been watching the present and last series of Lost and you’ve also tuned into Fringe, you will note there’s some cross over. No surprise. Both shows have the same producer!

Okay, no Jack or Hurley in Fringe, however like in Lost as in Fringe, there’s an influence of one dimension on another. In Fringe, a doctor takes his son from one dimension and takes him to another. This created a riff between the dimensions and has opened, shall we say our dimension to influences of the others.

I guess in simple terminology,  each dimension has it’s own determinism. Each decision creates another determined outcome. The outcome is played out in one of the many dimensions, but it’s deterministic.

Freewill exists but in a really weak form, but I believe it’s more deterministic.  Freewill is played in another dimension as it could have been.

In effect, it’s a cop-out for the determinism vs freewill argument introducing a softener for free-will enthusiasts.

The end of the world in Lost, is more like the dominance of one dimension over another. As we know from Star Trek [great resource] when one dimension meets another, at least in theory, one gets destroyed. So, we’re seeing another dimension being affected by another and there can ONLY be one survivor.

So, the Island allows transport through time and as such through dimensions for people on the Island. So if Locke escapes for example, its said he’ll bring around the destruction of the world. Well, yes. He’ll destroy the dimension that the original Lost survivors come from, but not the other dimension.  Maybe this is the determinism for that Island. Locke escapes, everyone is wiped out by dimension take over.  Probably he is the fail-safe. I believe that, as Whitmore says to Desmond, he’ll need to make a large sacrifice. The decision of us and ironically, the dimensional others!

Still, I think it’s very Schrodinger’s Cat and I think the Locke[Smokey] and Jacob, could simply be positive and negative conduits for the Island, needed for it to exist and to give it coherence. They exist inside the box, but it’s never open for view. Thus, when it’s stated the actors are DEAD, well they are dead and alive as they exist in the confines of the experiment and not open to investigation! Paradoxical right ahahah!

Remember in Series 1-2,  the count-down timer found on the Island, before being destroyed? This may have been the failsafe to stop one dimension from crashing into the other.  It’s been destroyed so now. In the present series we have the other dimension being played out and effecting the other one [people on the island].

With 5 episodes left, I think they need to cover a LOT of ground. We need to know what is DHARMA, why were they there, who are  Jacob and the Smoke Monster and why are they there, and what or who is the Island?

The great thing about Lost is, it’s an entity itself. People refer to it as a thinking, rational entity. However, we have not met or had any inference with this evil/or benign genius. The other main question is, is the Island UNIQUE or does it also have duplicity in other dimensions. If it’s not unique then we might run across some problems.

Mandatory Condom Use in Adult Films

I read an article recently stating an interesting twist on adult movies and condom use.  Seems like Michael Weinstein President of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation were, ‘knowingly exposing porn actors to sexually transmitted diseases’. Of course there’s other bodily fluids such as blood, mucus and saliva as well.

A complaint was sent to various agencies including: “A List Talent, ATMLA, Gold Star Modeling, LA Direct Models, Lisa Ann’s Talent Management, Metro Talent Management, SpieglerGirls.com, Type 9 Models Inc. & World Modeling”.

So, if the complaint is upheld it’ll mean watching some hammy acting before king dong sheaths on a 19″ black knobbler. Still, I think it’s best practice to show this in movies per se. If it goes out to a catholic country they can cut the scene and with any sex-safe country then with the dom-on!

The article is interesting and can be found here.

Tool Start Work on New Album: Tool to play with Rush, Muse, King Crimson & Pink Floyd

Tool have announced this week on their site that they are indeed going into the studio.

It’s been 4 years since we’ve heard anything new from these guys since their 10,000 days album.

So far there’s no name of the album, but stick close and come back soon when this is announced!

Before I give you the link, the band are suggesting fans practice magical evocation to get:

• Tool to produce a new album quicker and your potent magick will help the make the band work faster!

• Tool to perform with Muse, U2 style, on a rooftop in Teignmouth Devon
• Tool to open for Pink Floyd at the Royal Albert Hall
• Tool to open with Rush somewhere (possibly at Neuschwabenland)
• Tool to open with for King Crimson at Madison Square Garden

You can also work the magick spells to be:

• In the company of Danny and Adam at a Lakers’ play-off game [or Chelsea FC with Justin ].
• Winning two free tacos from Jack In The Box {??}

Of course it’s all tongue in cheek.

The email is VERY long so good luck

Tarragona’s Roman Festival: Tarraco Viva: 18th – 30th May,2010

Tarragona, if you’ve never been is a HUGE Roman city near Barcelona. You can still see many remnants of the Roman Empire.  The most impressive is the amphitheatre, but I’d check out the circus nearby which is quite spooky!

I’m a huge lover of the Roman Empire and culture. I’ve been waiting months for further information on Tarraco Viva’s 2010 program. It’s finally out. During May there’s tonnes of activities, many of which are free, some by invitation only and other’s for between 1-5 Euros to enjoy.

You can get up close and personal to the Roman Empire at the Tarraco Viva festival.

There’s a few purely money making [read tourist bleeding]  events such as wine tasting and food. However, some of the more cultural events seem to be available for free! YAY!

Although the festival kicks off on the 18th, most activity is around the last weekend of May: Friday/Saturday/Sunday – 28/29/30 May 2010.

There’s lots of people dressed up as Romans, Celtiberians and others. Unfortunately not that many Visigoths. I’d love some ancient Germanic beer baby yeah!

There’s 2 events I’ve highlighted which, I hope will be instructional. One is on the Saturnalia [or the real origin of Christmas rituals], as practised by the Romans. If you skip to the bottom, there’s a paid for show on Gladiators. I do hope this is better than another show I went to at another Celtiberian place!

There’s a return of the Roman Calvary [4 horses] doing acrobatics and I guess a show on Roman military prowess.

If you like the Romans or the Celtiberiacans you can view them all, but note they’re located at different areas. I will probably enjoy the Roman marches, mainly as there appears to be more diversity!

You can read the whole digest of things to do [in Spanish] in a PDF. It’s a bit of a monster [being 35 pages]. Anyway, I’ve lifted a few from the Brochure and Google Translated them.

Here’s a video to get you in the mood!

What follows is a list of my favs from this years jam packed Roman Cultural Festival in Tarragona 2010

Saturnalia, the feast of new slaves
Closing ceremony of the festival
Thaleia
About 60 extras made this reconstruction of what life was dramatized this event in Tarraco: Sacrifice in the church and banquet in honor of Saturn (Lectisternio), act of coronation of King of the Holidays (Rex Saturnaliorum) and subsequent death at this altar, legionnaires on the scene, changing roles (rituals of investment) of the slaves in the domus, sweepstakes and dice games in the street party at the school, musicians and dancers, jokes, costumes.

A world of entertainment allowed between 17 and 23 December in the Roman Empire in the  Saturnalia.
Date May 30
Place Auditorium Campus Martius
Free Access
================================================
HISTORY IN ACTION
XII International Meeting of historical reenactment groups of Roman
This is one of the meetings of groups of more complete reconstruction of Europe. Participating groups dedicated to the recreation of the Roman world as well as some of the other contemporary cultures in the Roman.

High-imperial legions
Legio VII Gemina (Tarragona). Recreation high-imperial Roman army. + Imperial legions under- Cohors I Gallica (Basque Country). Recreation late imperial Roman army.
28, 29 and May 30
Place Roqueral Soccer Field
Free Access

=========================================

Iberian world, Celtiberian
Ibercalafell (Calafell). Recreation Iberian culture.
Tierraquemada (Numancia). Recreation celtibérica culture.
28, 29 and May 30
Place Jardines del Campo de Marte
Free Access

ROMAN CAVALRY
Demos showcasing riding or gymnastics and tactics of war. This year the German group that  debuted two years ago in our festival, will delight us with four horses .. Without doubt one of the more exhibitions expected from the conference.

Timettroter (Germany)
28, 29 and May 30
Place Roqueral Soccer Field
Free Access Free Access

================

MÚNERA Gladiatori
The struggles of gladiators in ancient Rome. The Istituto Dimicandi Ars (Italy) specializes in research and reconstruction of the arms and  combat techniques of the Roman gladiators. They offer specialized as a demonstration far from the scientific vision has given us the film.
Date 28 May 29
Place Amphitheatre
Access Entrance fee € 1

Alicia Keys Plays Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona: 2nd June, 2010

The infamous American song writer and musician Alicia Keys is gracing us in Barcelona on the 2nd June, 2010.  She’ll be playing one of my favourite venues Palau Sant Jordi, so you’re pretty much guaranteed great sound!

Catching her will cost just 45 euros, if you buy direct but it’ll be around 50 plus all the various hidden charges!

BIFFY CLYRO FEATURING ON VIDEO GAME: SBK®X

Looks like SBK®X, basically a newer version of Superbike World Championship is to include two of Biffy Clyro’s songs ‘That Golden Rule’ & ‘Mountains’. These as well you’ll remember were top 10 UK singles!

Keep an eye out on Youtube and other places as ‘Mountains’ is gonna be used in the game’s trailer [plus on radio].

SBK®X is released next month, May 2010 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.  More info: www.sbk-x.com

Vuze Forcing Norton On Users: Security Risk IMHO

I love VUZE. I’ve discovered so many royalty free and legal indie short movies and animes there since I left atomfilms.com some time ago.

However, I’m very disappointed that with the new Vuze installation v4.4, forcing Norton on to your system. There’s also a VUZE toolbar as well which I opted out of but it still seems to have installed itself.

I personally dislike Norton. It’s resource heavy and slows down my notebook to a snail’s pace. If you’re using a Mesh Computer with XP, it will aid in totally taking it down.

I’ve got an anti-virus thanks Vuze. Why didn’t you offer a scan for the installation warning people that adding 2 anti-virus programs leads to incompatibility and open to attacks?

If I was a hacker, I’d be scanning for recent sharers IP addresses and to exploit this vulnerability. I’m going to be watching the blogosphere from users. I don’t think this is going to be the last we’ve heard about this!

The nasty part with their latest version  was accepting the agreement which appears on the same page as a Norton download.  The installation wizard pages are not clear enough to state what you’re installing. In effect you have 2 sets of user-licences. One is lead to believe that it’s the same program.

It’d have been better policy for Vuze IMHO to have it as a separate download.

It’s a pity as I liked and trusted Vuze. However, from now on, I’m going to have to investigate alternatives. Who knows what other services the company is forcing on me?

Download here: But, let the buyer beware!

http://hwcdn01.vuze.com/files/Vuze_Installer.exe.

Blur release new single to support indie music stores

Blur who’ve not released any singles for 7 years later are going to be selling a very, very limited vinyl later this month. There’s just  1,000 copies. Looks like Lily Allen is doing the same for the UK’s Record Store Day, April 17th!

“We want independent record stores to continue, they’re an important part of our musical culture,” said Blur frontman Damon Albarn. “Music is a simple way for Blur to show our support and we hope people like it.”

Nice one guys! I guess as it’s very limited, there’s no plans to get it as a digital copy from indie shops with a website [as opposed to itunes etc]. Oh well, so back to the torrents people go!

Cypress Hill New Album Announced: “Rise Up”, out 20 April, 2010

It’s been 6 years since we’ve seen any new albums from the metal/hip hop crew Cypress Hill! It looks like it’s gonna be a stormer with the host of invited artists on their album. Here’s  a quick peek!

• Mike Shinoda – Linkin Park
• Daron Malakian -  System Of A Down
• Everlast
• Young De
• Evidence & Alchemist
• Cheech & Chong

Their new album entitled “Rise Up”, is ready to buy  April 20, 2010.

Primark, Barcelona, Diagonal De Mar: You’ve saved us, and probably Spain!

In Praise Of Primark, Barcelona

It was near to the time when I was leaving the UK, a friend told me if I needed quality throw away clothing to check out Primark. I was indeed impressed. If I was without a plain black t-shirt, I could get hold of one for like £1.99. Presently a plain T-shirt will cost you 2.50 EUR! Not bad indeed.

Depending on the store type, the majority of the clothes are aimed at females.  A close friend said that the Primark in Barcelona has more bra’s than other similar department stores in Spain. This is indeed impressive. I would like to add, that whomever does the fashion design for their shirts and t-shirts seems to have a very good eye. The fashion is extremely up to date and there’s sometimes some rare gems that outshine Celio, H&M, and Pull & Bear.

Their prices are amazing. You can pick up a pair of fashionable and shall we say out of season classical ones for around 12 -17 euros. The same quality applies to other stores such as H&M, and Pull and Bear. Sometimes Zara’s own jean ranges, it depends on the fabric. However I would say that Zara clothes hold T-shirt sweat quicker than one of Primark’s.

What strikes me as most impressive about Primark, that even in the UK, with its over testosteroned males and females, there was rarely a fight at the checkouts. They were driven by efficiency.

Their check-outs, on the whole one gets through in about 5-7 minutes. I’m talking behind 20-30 odd people! Now compare this to H&M, Zara, Pull & Bear, Lefties, C&A, El Cortes Ingles and Celio where it takes 10-15 minutes to serve 3 people, one notes the difference.

Okay, with Primark you are check-out cattle, but do you really need to say strike up a conversation with someone, if you saw on the news tomorrow had died, would you really care?

Bottom line, I hope Primark cuts away at Spain’s enthusiasm for total lack of customer service. Additionally, their prices for clothing is a radical price reduction than their nearest competitor. Maybe this will wake people up to how much they are being overcharged for a Zara, GAP, H&M basic 6 euro black t-shirt.

Finally, checking out, I want my clothing now. I don’t expect nor want a prolonged family chat experience. I want it cheap and I want it now. Well, it seems Spain’s chains can’t satisfy neither cheap or efficient. Hey, I’m just getting started. Even Pull & Bear’s outlets and Lefties don’t sell stuff as cheap. Well, okay you can by a shredded shirt or crotchless jeans cheaper – maybe.

For this reason, I praise Primark. Maybe this chain’s soon to be priority place for shoppers in Spain. I hope they wake and shake up CEO’s from other chains to look at the basics of the experience they’re creating. Let’s compare, ‘zero customer service’, ‘check-out times 5 minutes per shopper’, ‘over priced goods’… to cheap, efficient and customer centric.

I think a chimp could oook it’s preference. I wonder how long it’ll take  Zara, H&M,  Pull & Bear and C&A. OOok… Oookkk..