I’ve read, re-read and enjoyed Palin’s Around the world in 80 days and Pole to Pole, and picked this one up in my local library. So I’m about halfway (in Chile) now. Is it me, or is the tone of this book different than the other two I’ve read? Palin sounds more melancholic and weary to me. I guess it’s due to the lenght of the trip and his wife’s health problems. Or is it just me (or the interpretation of the Dutch translator – I read the other two in the original English edition)?

I absolutely hated this movie. To the point where I applauded when it was over, as I was so glad I could get out of the theater. I saw this in high school, as the school attempted to let us experience Belgian cinema. I wish they would have picked Le Huitiéme Jour instead. Rosetta doesn’t have a storyline, the protagonist is unlikeable, and the entire movie is nothing more than a depressing collection of images. I suppose there’s an underlying social message, but it didn’t reach me, nor any of my fellow students. When we complained to our teacher that we disliked the movie, he replied “If you disliked it than you didn’t get it”. So when I asked him “Well explain it to us then” he huffed and walked off. It won a Palme d’Or, so you’re supposed to like it? Well, maybe this just isn’t my genre. But I never disliked a movie like this one.

A guy in my college class noticed my Sailor Moon wallpaper on my laptop (yes I was a moonie years ago), and borrowed me his Escaflowne disks. It was the best introduction to high quality anime I can imagine. The story is epic, the characters drew me in, and I started collecting anime after finishing this series. It still is one of my favourites.

Darker version of the Escaflowne story. Does not live up to the series.

First 3 quarters of the movie classic Indy fun, ending was way over the top though. All in all, imo, not as great as say Temple of Doom, but still great fun. Harrison Ford still got it. Very much liked the “mum” too :)

Turns out I only like a handful of Rolling Stones songs. So I didn’t like this compilation, but someone who does like them probably would love this.

This always brings back memories of family vactions on the Spanish Costa Brava. Every holiday, the camping would organize a flamenco night, and you could bet your head on it that they would play ‘Volare’ or ‘Bamboleo’. And all the tourists sang along in very bad phonetic Spanish :D I must admit I still do that when these song are on in my car.

I also really like their version of ‘Hotel California’ which if I’m not mistaken is also part of the ‘Big Lebowski’ soundtrack.

Nothing major, but it did have a small impact on my life – this series influenced my visit to Rome to a great extent: it was the reason behind my hunt for Caravaggio paintings and the glorious Bernini sculpture “The Ecstasy of St. Theresa”. I’m so glad I watched this. I’ve always had an interest in art but never studied much of it, this was a great introduction to some lesser known (to me!) artists. Simon’s trained eye also points out things/details which would be totally lost on me otherwise. If you have any interest in paintings/sculptures, this is one to watch.

Read the Dutch edition “Getto van de Angst” in middle school, loved it and probably did a book report on it.

Loved this as a middle school teen, terribly romantic and dramatic. This is a revised version of the author’s De rebel met de roos