Backup

Backup - making copies of data so that these additional copies may be used to restore the original after a data loss event.

Hopefully the data loss event will never occur, but given the amount of stuff I now have on my computer, I thought it would be wise to take precautions. In 1997, during a fire at the headquarters of Credit Lyonnais, a Paris bank, system administrators ran into the burning building to rescue backup tapes because they didn't have offsite copies. I could almost see myself doing that - running screaming into the burning house "no, not my photos and music!" The recent data loss experienced by a friend of mine spurred me into action - and really considering how easy and cheap it is ($130 for 320g) I am surprised I didn't do it sooner. I am not sure what to use for an offsite location though - most logical place is work I suppose.

Lars and the Real Girl

While I am on the subject of movies, I'd like to mention another film that I loved. "Lars and the Real Girl":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lars_and_the_real_girl

There is just something undefinably sweet about this movie, in the same way Amelie was sweet. In some ways they explore a very similar theme – the power of love and acceptance. It was nominated for a whole heap of awards (most of which it didn’t win), and did ok at the Box Office. However I think it deserves more recognition and praise than that, if only for the respect with which it treats its characters. As the NY Post reviewer pointed out it “eschews cheap laughs”, which considering the subject matter would be almost inevitable at the hands of another scriptwriter.

Does anyone else have anything to recommend? I find it very hard to locate DVD that (a) I haven’t seen and (b) would wish to see nowadays.

Vicky Christina Barcelona

saw a good movie which I would like to recommend to everyone - written and directed by Woody Allen, but thankfully doesn't have him acting (I find him rather annoying). It's his third film starring Scarlett Johanssen, after Match Point and Scoop... methinks he must admire her acting skills :)

Despite all appearances to the contrary, it rises above the level of the average chick-flick, probably because it's actually rather funny. Apparently I "laughed like a hyena" during the movie. Anyways, some more info can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicky_Christina_Barcelona

My Russian Pirozhki didn't work :(

I was inspired by Zoya to make them (see links below for recipe and photos). However they came out tasting and looking nothing like hers. I can even pinpoint where the process went wrong - my dough failed to rise. Zoya, any tips? I used the dried sachet yeast, was that wrong? Very disappointing result for a lot of work...


http://fioleta.blogspot.com/2008/10/comfortable-challanges.html

http://alwayswanted4.blogspot.com/2008/11/russian-pirozhki.html

The world

I can't help but put in my two cents worth in regards to the US election: Whoooohoooo! The empire of old white old men and self-righteous scanks has been vanquished. All hail the return of the Jedi!

Without knowing anything about voter turnout or demographics, I am going to put this down to generational change. My baseless assumption that we (meaning myself and my contemporaries) have the power gives me enormous comfort, and leads me to make the equally baseless conclusion that the world is becoming a better place. Yay!

Hair Burn

So I went back to blonde on the weekend. Overall I am very happy with the colour and style, but there is no denying that the condition of my hair went from shiny and smooth to dry and frizzy. Does anyone know a good conditioning treatment for post-peroxide dryness? Or is it something I just have to live with?

JM Coetzee

I know the man won a Nobel Prize and two Bookers, but I don't like his work. Does anyone else find that he is waving his flag of intellectual superiority through his writing? I have to admit I've only read two of his books: Disgrace (just finished it) and Elizabeth Costello, but I haven't enjoyed either. His characters are pretentious, his writing is affected and his tone is moralizing.
This is what Wikipedia says about him:

"Coetzee is a man of almost monkish self-discipline and dedication. He does not drink, smoke or eat meat. He cycles vast distances to keep fit and spends at least an hour at his writing-desk each morning, seven days a week. A colleague who has worked with him for more than a decade claims to have seen him laugh just once. An acquaintance has attended several dinner parties where Coetzee has uttered not a single word."

Which makes perfect sense. What a kill-joy.