ThunderPeel2001

Thanks, AG. I think I might just take you up on your offer :tup:

Hey Signor! Great to hear things are happening in your life! Welcome back And welcome back to you, too Snoogles!

That 300 million figure is shocking... and does make him sound quite high up if he's privy to that sort of information. I wonder what the most expensive game ever made is?

Absolutely. This is just one person's (embittered) version of events. I can totally see this sort of office gossip going on from a couple of disgruntled employees, while everyone else eaves drops and wonders what their problem is. I wouldn't be at all surprised is The Old Republic kicked arse. I certainly wouldn't put all my stock into one artist's opinions about any project. As someone who has been involved in leading big projects, I know how frustrating it can be when people don't understand why a certain decision has been made... you just want them to do their best work under the constraints, and not keep having to explain why. (Of course, I've felt the frustration on the other side, too, and it's awful, if not worse.) Anyways, that's my 2c.

Thanks for all that detailed breakdown! It seems that, apart from Pattern Recognition, I've read just about all his worst books, lol. But it also means I've missed out on some of his best. Looks like I should finish reading the short stories in Burning Chrome, primarily. As I said, the titular story was quite simply the best thing I've ever read of his... looks some of the others might be on an equal footing. Thanks again! I've been wondering about his other stuff for years.

It's official: I'm going to live! *sigh* So, this is what I learned: A typical dose is usually around 60 to 120mg. 200mg is considered a high dose, but it's not uncommon for treating bad cases. For really bad cases they can prescribe as high as 400mg. I'm on 300mg... so I guess I have a pretty bad case of anaemia Still, my dosage is nothing to worry about, as long as it's under 400mg Thanks for tolerating my worrying ways, everyone!

Really? Phew! I hope you're right. Expecting my NHS Direct call back now. *sigh* I bet this is going to be nothing, I'm such a worry-wart. Apologies, folks.

Thanks! That does make me feel better, Thompson. Appreciate it I'm still on 300mg per day, though, which is more than the 100mg/120mg mentioned in the quote. I'll see what the professionals say.

Well, the problem with iron is that your body has no way of getting rid of excess. When you get too much it collects in organs around your body and can cause problems in the heart and brain (heart attack and stroke). Apparently if you get seriously overloaded, pretty much all they can do is drain your blood. I'm currently on 3750% the RDA for iron And remember what it says on the box: "In severe cases two tablets per day." I'm on three. It probably IS nothing. I'm probably worrying completely unnecessarily. But it would make me feel better if someone had had a similar experience or had any knowledge in the area, and, unfortunately, sometimes doctors make mistakes. So, this is my attempt at getting a second opinion. (Or it was, I've now called NHS Direct, and someone in their medicines department is going to call me back and (hopefully) tell me I'm a typical half-informed idiot for worrying, and that I should stop wasting their time.)

Back to the Future is still freaking awesome! Forget DVD, it's just as good as it ever was in the cinema. Well worth seeing it on this new run

I knew it! (Why are there so many evil doctors around these days?)

Cool. I've never read Christie, so it's interesting to hear the difference.

Some of the complaints about Poirot sound like they could be levelled at Holmes, too, but really I don't think any of Conan Doyle's stories were ever "fair play", and if you try to read them like that, you'll probably get very frustrated. Of course, just going along for the ride and not paying attention, isn't much fun, either. I think it's a balance of paying attention to all the clues, so you appreciate the solution when it comes, but not really expecting to be able to solve it yourself.

That's good to know. It'd be interesting to hear how your rate all his books (if that's not too tedious) to be able to measure the things I liked about them compared to you.

Best quote ever!

It's really interesting to finally hear the thoughts of other Gibson fans. I can't say I was a huge fan of the Bridge Trilogy, in fact, it had many annoying things in it. The structure of all three books was the same, for example: Chapter one, be introduced to one character. Chapter two, be introduced to completely unrelated character. Alternate chapter focuses until these characters meet up two thirds of the way through and defeat a common problem. There's some great moments and ideas, though, just not as many as Neuromancer. In that book, in my mind, he managed to cram so many interesting details and observations that made the world, and plot, come alive. Since then I know he's been hung up on creating "realistic" characters, but I just don't think that's his calling... In fact, apart from Cayse, I don't think he's ever done it - and even then I think he lost focus of her character towards the end. His desire to move in this direction, to me, is like Burroughs trying to write a period romance novel, and refusing to give up until he does. According to Wikipedia he re-wrote the first two-thirds of Neuromancer 12 times... I bet he's not done that since (although I don't blame him -- I'm sure it was hell at the time). All this talk has actually reminded me that the best thing he ever wrote, and the story most spiritually (and successfully) tied to Neuromancer was Burning Chrome. If you've not read this short story, you're really missing out. The tone feels just like the tone of NR; Very Beat and Chandler-esque, but also very lean. Interesting that no-one has read the other Sprawl books. For me, although I've owned them at various points, I'm afraid of entering a lesser version of the world I enjoyed so much. (And I've always wondered if I was missing out.) Anyone read The Difference Engine? I know Stirling prefers Neuromancer Gibson, too.

Really? What are you seeing? Recently seen: Made in Dagenham (SO much better than the awful trailer made it look, REALLY good.) Tamara Drewe (couldn't get past how smug everyone was, although it's certainly not badly made) World's Greatest Dad (although I've already written extensively about it, it's suddenly come to my attention that of course it's a satire on the cult of suicide... I just don't think it's a very good one. Duh.)

Whhhhaaaaaa That's amazing! I've read Neuromancer tons of times, I love that book! I even have that documentary he did: No Maps For These Territories. I've also read Virtual Light, Idoru, All Tomorrows Parties and Pattern Recognition... but only the latter is something I'd recommend, and even then, not if you know a lot about the technicalities of the internet. For me, he's never reached the lofty heights of Neuromancer since then, but obviously I have holes in my reading list... What do other fans think? Is Neuromancer his best? Has he matched it since? (I did really enjoy Pattern Recognition, but I was frustrated that nobody ever did a WHOIS, lol.)

Oh man, I love his writing. It's amazing how much of Host Master's dialogue reminded me of my favourite dialogue from Monkey Island.

Nothing compared the mess of its sequel... You can't top the attempted assassination of the Pope and the sales of arms to Iraq for worse PR. Whatever were they thinking?

Could this be to expectations? They're (usually) the enemy of being able to enjoy films... at least for me.

I've not tried Swype, but I used to be able to text one-handed, without looking, with complete accuracy, extremely fast, while holding up my end of a conversation. Now it (usually) takes two hands, is way slower, and requires my full concentration. Not being able to use something by touch alone is one of my major problems with touch screens... but maybe that's just me.

"Old people"? I'm sure the person who wrote that episode probably isn't that much older than me. Also, what makes me sad is your obvious denial of your gaming addiction. People like you (and me) make me sick!

This video makes me ashamed to be a gamer. When I finally see how we really are through the prism of TV, I have no choice but admit that we're all hopeless in need of help. Thank god for Law & Order for showing us all the dangerous reality of our dirty gaming addiction. RZlQkzYjs-g Actually, thinking about it. YOU'RE the ones in need of help! I CAN QUIT ANY TIME I WANT! (This may well be the clip of the millennium.)

Welcome to the hell of a touch screen interface...... (Sorry, I'm exaggerating. I did a similar upgrade to a HTC Desire, and yes, it's great for lots of reasons -- I love getting my email, using the internet, even some great apps... but I miss being able to text quickly.)