Year: 2010

Green Zone

A couple of weeks ago I saw “Green Zone” in the cinema.  I barely heard anything about this film – only that Matt Damon plays the main character and that it was directed by the same guy who did some of the Bourne trilogy – but even that was enough.  I wanted to go.

First things first.  This film is not like the Bourne trilogy.  There are a few moments that bring back the memories, but overall it is a totally different film.  The subject is different, the characters are different, the way it was shot is different.  Second things second.  I enjoyed this movie.  As most other Hollywood-made war-related movies it had its share of propaganda, but once I switch on the propaganda filter, there was plenty to enjoy.

Matt Damon acting was awesome as always.  He is very natural and very, how should I put it, believable.  It is often easy to relate to his characters just because of his acting, and this film is not an exception.  The visual content of the film was interesting.  While I am not a big fan of handhold shaking camera effect, it works for this film.  And gladly not the whole film is shot this way – only the scenes where it adds to the atmosphere.

There was plenty of background work in this film – scenery, decorations, costumes, routine, etc.  One of the common ways to avoid this work in a war movie is to switch between a command bunker or Washington office and a blind darkness of the jungle, or something like that.  In this film everything is happening in the war zone and story switches between neutral and hostile areas.  This creates a nice feeling of being there.

Now, to the important part.  The story.  While, as I said, it holds plenty of propaganda, I still liked it.  At least it attempted to show things from a different angle and explain how things go wrong and what it takes to make them right.  There is something to think about and even know, a couple of weeks later, I find myself rethinking parts of the movie.  I do want to see it again and probably I will once I get my hands on the DVD.

Overall, a good film.  Recommended.  4 out of 5.

The end of the road

After a rather lengthy discussion and several beers with my friends yesterday, I got convinced. This whole blogging thing is just a waste of time.  It will not make me any money.  I am not learning anything out of it.  And nobody cares about it.  The only good reason to do it is sharing of information, but I can share using a number of social networks and email, where all my friends are anyway.  After thinking carefully about how much time, effort, and money I am pouring into this site, I decided that enough is enough.

This is my last post and I won’t write any more.  I’ll keep my social networking profiles, email, and instant messaging.  I will keep this site online for a couple of more month, until the web hosting expires, and then it will go offline.  I suggest you do the same.

See you on the social web.  Good bye and thanks for all the fish.

Update (April 2nd, 2010) : This, of course, was my attempt at April’s Fool joke.

Will Apple acquire Intel?

CyberNet News report that Apple is in the acquisition talks with Intel.

Several sources are reporting this morning that Apple is in discussions with Intel to acquire the chip manufacturer for upwards of $12 billion. Over the last 22 years Apple has acquired 25 different companies, but this single transaction will likely beat the sum of all the others combined.

I find these news interesting, because I remember reading some speculations on Intel buying Apple just a few days ago.  On the other hand, there was a discussion on whether Apple should buy AMD a few years after that.  One way or the other, someone will buy someone.  And judging by how things go now and not five years ago, I guess Apple is in the better positions to buy.

As a side note, have a look at stock prices and market capitalization for Apple, Intel, and AMD.

P.S.: And one should not forget that it is the April 1st today, so everything is possible.

Petrol prices across Cyprus

Cyrpus Mail runs an article about some ‘name and shame’ list that the government is assembling for petrol stations across the country.  And interesting bit there is the paragraph that compares petrol prices:

In Larnaca petrol 95 costs €0998 while in Limassol it is €1.022. Petrol 98 costs €0.999 in Larnaca and €1.058 in Limassol. Diesel will set you back €0.893 in Larnaca and €0.969 in Paphos.

The cheapest petrol is in Larnaca.  Not that I am too surprised with this fact, but rather by how much difference there is – more than 5 cents per litre!