Violence

Think of your favourite action film.

Not a romance, or a comedy, but a film that involves things happening.

Now think of how many people die in that film. The bourne identity? Eight people die. James Bond...don't even try to count. But are they really violent?

One of my favourite films is Equilibrium. I've never really considered it to be a "violent" film. While quite a few die, to me it's a tale of redemption, self discoverery, perhaps even love. Maybe sacrifice, anger...and a reminder of the lesson "Do not upset someone who's really, really good at violence".

But I never realised something, till I looked it up today.

It's one of the most violent films in existance, by some measures.

According to http://www.moviebodycounts.com/Top-Movies.htm it's got the 8th highest body count in movie history. One character - Cleric Preston - has a personal body count of 118.

That's the second most violent character in film history. His personal count puts him at joint 34th - that is, there are only about 34 films with more kills in the entire film, then he kills.

And yet it's still less violent then the zombie flick of your choice. More die in "Buffy the vampire slayer" - and thats a CHILDRENS program.

But is lord of the rings more violent? Some 800 died in the Return of the King. So is that four times worse?

On the nature of failure

As a geek, in my life I've been asked to look at many problems with computers.

I can tell tales of dust clogging vents, chips that have changed colour with heat damage and components that have simply died. Of singing powersupplies and relectant booters.

Computers that would boot one time in four religiously, and others that would boot if you pressed the power button with your foot.

And of all of these, the most annoying - the hardest to fix - is the "I can't see any problem".

They unplug it, bring it to the alter of testing, where I insert the leads of purity and boot it with the power cables of truth. And it works, with a little prayer and glare.

Not so the computer sitting in front of me. And it's the one I've been using for WoW these last few weeks - when I have the time - so to me it's pretty damn important.

Especialy because it's not mine, so if I break it, I replace it. Which I don't want to do.

And it refuses to boot - so I begin the normal tests, and find nothing, nothing and....nothing.

Angry and annoyed, I have a cup of tea, and ask myself the usual question - "What did I change..."

Just the mouse.

Check the mouse plug - it's fine.

Brush the keyboard plug...and it slides away. Push in firmly, and she works!

The moral of the story? Always, ALWAYS check the damn thing is plugged in first. It looks right isn't enough!

You've got to wonder...

As a replacement for an actual post - and there will be one soon - have a look at this...