Spring Break

I'm on it. Since I've been away from campus, I've got almost exactly a week without getting online. It's been nice. I'll be back next week, however, and back in the swing of things. Until then, I'm going to take some time to enjoy my un-connectedness.

Red, Black, and Beaded All Over

Though I don't use this design too often, it's one of my favorites. There's something indulgent about dangley collars.

Funny Story

"Hello?"
-Me

On Monday night, Keith called before he came over. About ten minutes later, he called again: "Yeah, I don't think I'll make it."

"Why?"

"I'm being pulled over by the cops."

"Why?"

"I have no idea."

A bit later, when he arrived at my house, I found out that a few blocks from his house, he noticed he was being followed by a large SUV, so he circled the block a few times. Then they flashed him to pull over. Apparently, someone called his car in and so an officer followed him. They asked why he was driving "erratically." He told them that he saw a strange car following him and the last thing he wanted to do was lead it to his girlfriend's house. They checked his lisence and registration, then let him go.

The best part is that this is the second time in the past three years that he's been pulled over just because. The first time was during a trip he and I went on with two of our friends. The cop said some bogus thing about how he thought he clocked us speeding, but wasn't positive it was us. Keith got taken back to the squad car, the Dianna did. Both were questioned, everyone had to show IDs, and we were there for a good twenty minutes. When I told the story to my brother's godmother and her husband (both cops) their instant reply was, "profiling." Kinda entertaining, but he does look a little rough and the big rings in his ears don't help.

Of course, the same thing used to happen to my dad who used to have very thick facial hair. In fact, once my parents were stopped on vacation both on the way there and the way home. They had their luggage searched and everything. Profiling is funny that way.

The Chapter of Much Foreboding

"Yes! An Arnell chapter, I'm happy. Oh, and don't worry about the middle part. I'm sure you'll figure it out."
-Jenny

Last month I slacked and didn’t turn in an Oracle submission to the writers group. This month, I can’t – because twice in row is just bad. Yesterday I managed to sit down for a while in front of my computer and now I’ve got almost three pages, which isn’t too bad for a start. The story is growing more difficult, now that I’m getting close to the climax. I’ve always had a fuzzy idea of how it’d work, but now I have to work out the details – like who’s going to get killed in the fight. So far, I’ve killed two women and a male fetus, so in fairness’ sake, I’m going to have to knock off one of the guys, but who?

Devyn (Kelda’s step-father) is an obvious choice, so he can’t be it.
Dorian (weasely kid) would be out of the way if he died, so I’ve got to keep him. Convenient deaths are annoying.
Sedge (hero) is kind of obvious.
Arnell (mercenary) would make sense, but too many people like him, besides, if he ends up pulling a martyr, that’d be against everything I’m trying to do with his character.
Attun (mentally unwell youth) is so immediately in peril, that there’s little way he could survive.

I can’t figure out who I can kill off without people seeing it coming. Damn it. Of course, there is the Joss solution – decide who’s death will make the audience most angry, then kill that person. In which case, Arnell is doomed. *Sigh*

Of course, the even more immediate problem is what’s going to happen in this chapter. As I told Jenny, I know how it begins, and roughly how it ends, but I’m really unsure about the pages in between. I guess there’s nothing for it, but to sit down and write it out.

Writer’s block is just another way of saying “lazy.”

T.A. Application

"Applicants should submit a statement of interest and qualification to the Program Coordinator by April 10. They also should request two recommendations from graduate faculty members using the attached form."

Step One: Get recommendations. Check
Step Two: Write letter. Not check.

I will come right out and admit it first thing – I’m a little freaked out. I’m scared that I won’t get the TA and scared that I will, and I don’t know which one would be worse. Getting it would be a step in the right direction toward becoming a full-fledged professor one day. Getting it would also mean a big new time commitment and the possibility that I’ll make an ass of myself trying to teach when I can’t handle it. Not getting it takes the pressure off. It also means no tuition waiver and no step in the right direction – along with the implication that my qualifications aren’t sufficient.

Katherine and David have both finished their recommendations for me. All I need to do is write a letter, a short one, and submit it. I’m having a case of intimidation based writer’s block. I don’t know what to put in my letter. Should it be longish? Shortish? How much does it really count, anyway? The selection committee is made up of English faculty, which means they pretty much already know me. Katherine’s more or less running our campus composition program, which means her say has a lot of weight. So, if she thinks I can/should be a TA, that means extra points toward getting it.

I’m trying to figure out why I’m so anxious and I think it comes down to: if I get it, I’m afraid I’ll figure it was too easy – no one else applied, the faculty already know me. Then, if I don’t get it – they didn’t think I could do it? Ugh. All right, I’ve got to write my letter. All I’ve got to do is write it and turn it in. Then it’s out of my hands, right? Then I can stop worrying about it. Just as soon as I spend ten minutes writing the letter, I can relax. Right?

Final (?) Harassment Update

"So, it turns out __ isn't as bad as we thought he was. Maybe."

A few weeks ago I said that my friend had sat down with the department head and talked about a guy in the grad program who makes off-color, sexist, and anti-religous comments. Finally, they've confronted him and he basically said, "Yes, I did/said those things, I didn't realize it was a problem. I'll behave now." He signed a form saying he'd mind his manners, understanding that a further infraction would mean being removed from the program.

My friend isn't convinced that he was innocent of the fact that he was being offensive, and I have to agree wit her. However, he's admitted to the claims against him and is now obligated to cut it the hell out. This bodes well, I think.

St. Pat's

"I'm glad it's over."
-Jan (one of the owners)

St. Patrick's day is a day famous for wearing green garb, pinching people who aren’t, and getting drunk. I work at an English/Irish pub. We have Guinness on tap.

St. Patrick’s day is a day famous for being hell for waitresses. Last year, I vowed that if there was ever any way I could avoid another St. Pat’s, I would. I made some bucks, but it wasn’t worth it. Unfortunately, there was no way to get out of it this year. Fortunately, the place was not as packed as last – hallelujah for small favors, eh? Also on the bright side, I managed to keep from slipping into a foul mood – apparently doing so on Friday night was enough (not foul mood, murderous). I maintained my cool, and was even slightly chipper, for most of the ten hours (no break) I was at the bar.

All this, despite the fact that I got stiffed on tips more during that one night than in the past two months combined. One guy in particular bought around $100 of drinks for himself and his friends. I got five dollars out of him, only because he accidentally handed me a $5 bill when he paid for one of the rounds. At one point, he said “Did you give me change for that last round?” Yes, I had. I almost added, “and you put it all in your wallet without so much as a dollar for me.” I don’t like to be rude, besides, sometimes they leave money on the table when they leave. He didn’t, but you never know for sure. Then, there was the group who bought beers at the bar because they were too impatient to wait for me to get to them – when the damn place is packed, don’t assume you’re being ignored, assume I’ll be right over just as soon as I finish putting in three tables’ worth of drink orders – then they ordered four dinners from me and walked on the check (obviously, no tip). There’s more, but you get the idea.

In the end, I made more money on Thursday than I did on St. Pat’s. At least there’s a whole entire year to go before I have to do it again.

Dangly Bits

This one's made of metallic seed beads and mottled black/green glass. I don't make too many necklaces in this style, mainly because most beads don't dangle right. These, however, are the right shape and just heavy enough to make it work. One of my favorite simple necklaces.

Finding a New David

“Grr.”
-Me

For some reason the campus internet connection is moving molasses slow today, much to my frustration. Ah well, Katherine just called and I have a project now.

Katherine’s heading the committee that’s looking for David’s replacement. I’ll be helping to screen applicants – only minimally – by checking that their application materials are complete. Of course, anything I see will be in the strictest confidence, but it’s kind of neat to think that I’ll be in the loop on this, even in such a minor way.

So, my project is to get together a box, some file folders, and a check-out form to store the materials and keep track of who’s got them. Oh boy, it’s exciting.

Nifty Sculptor

"I want to tell wild stories in a single three-dimensional vision, to radiate personality in such a way that for you to ponder a sculpture for a length of time would quite literally flesh out a biography of hair and clothing and trinkets and teeth and fingernails, etc."

-T. S. Kuebler, http://www.tskuebler.com/

I make a point of always checking Extreme Craft, because there's usually nifty stuff, and every now and again there's something that goes beyond nifty and into impressive. Something like this:

Kuebler has a wonderful imagination and fantastic attention to detail. I can only imagine the hours that go into each of his sculptures. On his website he mentions some famous folk who've bought his work, and I have to say, that if I had the money, I wouldn't mind owning one or two myself. Go to the website, now.

Interesting News from MSN.com

"The hit American movie “300” has angered Iranians who say the Greeks-vs-Persians action flick insults their ancient culture and provokes animosity against Iran."
-MSN Article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17599641/

I find it humorous that people are getting so offended. For one, the comic the movie is based on was written in 1998, well before the 9-11 attacks - so, pre-hostilities. The movie follows the comic very closely, so it’s not like the film makers were sneaking subversive stuff in there just to make digs at the Iranians.

Besides, aren’t we missing the point that, though inspired by history, it’s well-known that the comic is by no means historical. It’s a fantasy, plain and simple. It’s bloody melodrama, people!

This one’s interesting too: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17599099/?GT1=9145

So, they threaten a teacher with dismissal because he does community theater and shows his bum. Okay, so? It’s not in any way directly related to his school, or his job as a teacher. Yes, he shows some skin, but The Full Monty is not porn. Get over it, people. This guy has my full support. If he loses his job, it will be a sad day for democracy.

Neurotic Women and the Men Who Love Them

A few months ago I read The Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot. A few years ago I read Bridget Jones's Diary and its sequel. Now I'm watching episodes of Sex and the City. My God, it hurts.

But wait, you say, if it hurts, why read/watch them? Okay, I'll grant you that there's enough funny stuff thrown in to entertain me. My beef, however, is the neurotic women who are obsessed with love and looking for "the right man." How dumbass is that? "I need to find the right man" is a horribly anti-feminist idea. Yes, we, as humans are obsessed with romance (i.e. sex) but come on. The cherry on the sundae, though, is that we have these freaking-out, neurotic, obsessive women who actually find Mr. Right. How? They somehow stumble onto him, do everything in their power to make themselves look like an ass in front of him, and he loves them anyway, for no discernible reason. What the hell?

In an episode of Season One Sex and the City we have our heroine obsessing that Mr. Big is trying to hide her. She's the girlfriend he won't admit to, she thinks. So, she ends up drunk and decides it'd be a good idea to show up at his apartment in the middle of the night. Mr. Big answers the door in a robe and messy hair, she's obviously woken him. Then she accuses him of being ashamed of her, spills vodka on the floor and what does he do? He starts kissing her. Something is wrong here. Very wrong.

300

"Tonight we dine in Hell!"

-Leonidas

Since I saw, and subsequently read, Sin City, I've become a Frank Miller fan. Needless to say, I've been anticipating 300's release for quite some time now. Keith and I came up with a brilliant plan to trek up to C. Springs yesterday for dinner and 300 on the IMAX. Unfortunately, the brilliant plan went to hell when Keith got held up at work. Plan B: as soon as he walked in the door I told him about the 7:30 showing in town that we could just barely make. We hopped in the car and made it into the theater during previews and totally lucked out by finding two adjacent seats in the packed theater. Whew.

Movie Review: 300. Very, very cool. Of course, it's totally historically inaccurate on many, many levels, so take it all with a grain of salt. Besides, the movie isn't really about the battle of Termopylae, it's about heroes and spectacle. Both of which abound. Frank Miller's brilliant touches of monologue, visual style, and grit come out beautifully and the movie just oozes bad-assery. After months of anticipation, I'm pleased to say that it was totally worth it.

Salami

Fimo with black pepper inclusion, garnet, and gunmetal seed beads. This is the one I'm wearing today, in some ways, one of my favorite necklaces, because it's the only thing I have that is so blatantly red. Due to the colors and the black pepper, I always think of salami or pepperoni when I think of this necklace.

Cell Phone Loathing

"I don't know what I was thinking, but I'm off today. Yeah. That's cool girl."
-Snippet of conversation I'm being subjected to in the library

Whatever happened to the good ol' days of "Quiet Please" in the library? It's bad enough that people must have cell phone conversations while they're dining at restaurants-

Oh, that's damn funnny. Another woman's cell phone just went off. That makes two people who answered their phones (ringers were on) while using library computers. I mean, come on. It's one thing when you're off in a back row of books and the phone's on vibrate, but that was just bad manners. The other funny part was neither woman had just a ringer, but rather annoying music. Please, use a bit more discretion.

In the Psychology building basement, right next to the communal microwave, is a professor's office. Said professor has a bulletin board up by her office door which is filled with anti-cell phone cartoons. It's a beautiful thing. One day I may write an ode to that bulletin board. If you want an idea of what this glorious board is filled with, just google cartoon + cell phone.

Today's Myth Is__

"And because I don't think I have a connection speed that'll allow me to upload any photos, I'm going to post what I wrote on the first page of the book."
-Today's Oracle from Neil Gaiman's Journal

I've been watching Mythbusters episodes for the past couple of weeks, and alas, I have now run out. I feel all the better for the trivia I've gathered, and now I know the dangers of dropping a frozen turkey - watch out for your toes and your cat. While the show lacks much re-watchability, the science is fun and the geek appeal is great.

In other news, I'm stealing this link from Gaiman's journal, because it's just too funny to pass up. Aliens among us? You decide: http://english.pravda.ru/science/mysteries/07-02-2007/87167-alien_monster-0

Project Pictures: Polymer Bead Set

"I haven't heard from you guys in a while..."

-Part of my e-mail to David's friends who ordered jewelry from me a month ago and who have yet to send me payment. Grr.

When they ordered the jewelry from me, they asked for pictures that show the process. Here are the pictures I took while I made the custom necklace.

Step One: Mix clay for color. In this case I used different amounts of gold, white, translucent, and black Kato & Sculpey.

Step Two: Roll colored clays into snakes and combine into one large snake.

Step Three: Twist and roll snake to mix colors. Repeat until satisfied with color mix.

Step Four: Slice the cane and form beads.

Step Five: (Not shown) Pierce and bake beads.

Final Beads:

Final Cover

“What kind of veto power do I have on the cover design?”
-Me

I sent covers to Katherine, she forwarded them to the co-directors, who replied with “Change this, I don’t like that font” stuff. At first, I got frustrated. Some of the suggestions were things I specifically decided against – like, Papyrus font would be damn hard to read against the textured background. After I got a chance to let my gall settle, I realized Katherine is the type who’ll let me have some executive power. Sure enough, she answered my question by saying I can take their suggestions or leave them as I see fit.

So, after some playing with font, here’s the design that I want on the cover.

P.S. Dramamine is a beautiful thing. While it hasn’t completely obliterated my Vertigo symptoms, it has greatly, greatly reduced them. Hoorah for Dramamine!

Surveys Are Fun

“Given me more tools for more actively engaged”
-Anonymous teacher response to survey question (that’s all there was, I kid you not)

Life as the SCWP assistant is multi-faceted. One of the most entertaining, yet disturbing facets, is transcription. Katherine is very enthusiastic about feedback and surveys, most of which are responded to by local public school teachers. While many educators have no apparent trouble answering questions such as, “How has this inquiry group process improved your understanding of student learning?” Others respond in varied and inexplicable ways, such as “For sures!” or [indecipherable scribbling, looks like “goat ran duck vroom”].

Two key things to remember when filling out surveys and/or response forms.

1. Write legibly. Unless your cursive is very neat, use print. Please remember, also, that transcribers do not use a microscope or magnifying glass – please, no 5pt writing.

2. Answer the question(s) asked - bonus points for complete thoughts. If a question begins with “How,” it is not an yes/no question. Thank you.

This ends this public service announcement. Have a nice day.

Ewan McGregor's Pink Bits and Chet, the Huge Shaved Cat

Nagiko: Where is a book before it is born? Who are a book's parents? Does a book need two parents - a mother and a father? Can a book be born inside another book? Where is the parent book of books? How old does a book have to be before it can give birth?

-The Pillow Book (Possibly, the best lines from the entire damn movie)

Movie Review: The Pillow Book. Weird-ass movie. Even a whole day after watching this movie, I’m still not positive whether I liked it or just thought it was okay. The beginning was overly-artsy with lots of a shot within a shot, color strangeness, and such. It mellowed as things went on, but never disappeared entirely. These are the type of things that may get comments like “lush” and “multi-layered” from other people, but leave me thinking “how much of that was really necessary?” Gotta love Ewan McGregor, though, and I’m not just talking about the nudity. Why is he such an exhibitionist, anyway? McGregor is the only big name actor I can think of who shows off his intimate parts in more than one movie. Maybe it’s a British thing. Vivian Wu does a neat job as Nagiko, and there are some pretty and poetic moments in the movie. I also dig the touch of having words in various languages lit onto the background of many shots. The most brilliant part? The Jerome book.

Book Review: You Suck! A Love Story by Christopher Moore. Funny vampire stuff, with goth girl diary excerpts. Also interesting for its connection to two other Moore books, Bloodsucking Fiends and A Dirty Job – of which, I’ve only read the second. Some authors don’t build books off each other, some do. Moore is the second kind, which is fun. While I’ll ready any Moore book I can find, this isn’t his best. Still, it’s far from bad. In other news, I just found out he has a blog.

The Kiln Fund

Last summer I took a one day class in glass fusing. This necklace has one of the pendants I made (though, not my favorite one - that one went on a necklace I gave to Camii for her B-day and, alas, I have no picture). It also has a few silver spacers, hematite, and misc. seed beads.

A few months ago, I snagged a Balvenie container (why they need a container to hold a bottle of scotch, I do not know) which became a change repository. This is around the same time that I started making use of my shift drinks at the bar: I don't drink, but I can comp. a drink someone paid for and it comes out to the same, but with a few extra dollars in my pocket. So, I decided the Balvenie container would become a savings account for pocket change and shift drink money. Then, I just needed to decide what to spend it on.

I finally had the Eureka moment I was waiting for, and realized it should go toward a small electric kiln for jewelry purposes. To date, I've got about $150 set aside and the last time I checked, a small kiln was about $350. I have a while to go yet, depending on whether I use some tax refund money to close the gap. Still, I'm excited. I can play with dichroic glass, and maybe take a hammer to some of the liquor bottles I've been collecting (Jagermeister pendants, yeah?).

A Flaming Bike and a Spinning Head

"The only predictable thing about Vertigo is its unpredictability."
-Doctor who diagnosed me

I've gotten into the pattern of expecting Vertigo about once every six months. So, when I had my last bout in January, I figured I'd be clear of it for a while. I was wrong. Another round has settled in. Every bout is different, and this is one of those rare ones where the head spins really bring on the nausea. I got some Dramamine this morning (shopping is an adventure in itself right now, and silly me, I did the self checkout). I’m hoping to high heaven that it has some effect. I was also hoping to find some Ginger Beer, but alas, I had to settle for Orange Cream Soda which doesn’t have the upset stomach reducing power of ginger, but at least it’s got mundo carbonation.

Yesterday Keith and I had a date for dinner and a movie (great timing, too, since I was feeling crummy and he had a bad day at work). Fortunately, despite the odds, we had a nice time. I for one was thrilled to get out of the house, since there was no way I was driving yesterday and he was my only hope.

Movie Review: Ghost Rider. The critics aren’t impressed, but most everyone else likes it. I’m somewhere in between. Hoorah for Sam Elliott and Nicolas did a respectable job. The CGI guys were definitely on the ball, and the whole legend/mythic atmosphere was neat. Beyond that, it gets fuzzy. Now, typically, I like Eva Mendes, but in this movie the love story was damn ridiculous and, for the most part, so was she. Ugh. Spare me. The writers fell in love with skeleton puns, and got quite carried away. Add to that some extraneous moments that had me thinking “Now what was the point of that?” and I think this one may have been best left as a comic.

Birthday and Manuscripts

"I'm thinking the final chapter total will be around 12-14. I have it about to the beginning of Chapter 9 and after that is what I'm thinking of as the "Brandon Chapter" where it's an excerpt from the manuscript. I'm worried that it's a little too short, so I'm debating about what I want.... "
-Jenny, E-mail

I finished the part of Jenny's manuscript that she's given me and now eagerly await the rest. I'm relieved that I was able to get through the chunk I had so quickly. I feel a radiating sense of accomplishment. Hoorah for me! Okay, ego trip over. It's interesting to see a manuscript (more or less all at once) of a novel. This is the first time I've had the experience and I think it's fun. What'll be even more fun is seeing it get published - Go Jenny!

In other news, today's my brother's birthday. It's funny, too, that my parents are out of town and he's still in Springs, and when I tried to call him, he didn't answer. So, yes, it's the anniversary of my brother's birth, but we're far from rolling out the confetti.

Now, cross your fingers for me, because I had a case of the dizzies this morning and I'm afraid another bout of Vertigo might be rolling over me. Damnit, the last one was only two months ago, this isn't fair at all. But, maybe, just maybe, the dizziness from this morning is isolated. Cross your toes, too.

Harassment Complaint

"Since we spoke, the provost has been apprised of this matter and F-- has talked to the university attorney, who advised us that it should be reported to T--, the university Affirmative Action Officer, who investigates cases of sexual harassment, immediately."
-Part of an E-mail string I received last week

A few months ago I talked about a male student in the graduate program who was making people uncomfortable. Well, the ante has been upped. The gal who was most offended by this fellow made a formal complaint. She spoke to the head of the department last week, and was basically told she needed more evidence (letters she collected from other students didn’t count). She said she felt like she was blown off. Unfortunate.

On the “bright” side, it does sound like people other than the department head are looking at the situation more closely. Also, her first step makes it easier for others to speak up, and I’m pretty sure I know of at least one other student who plans to do so.

As far as this guy goes, the creepiness has escalated. He’s asked a couple of female students where they live so he can “drop off notes” or such. He’s called one gal every night for a week straight, to the point where she does not answer the phone anymore. I’m glad he’s ignored me so far, but it makes me uneasy. Last night in class I caught him looking my way and got a squirmy feeling. I always make sure to walk out with someone after class, and last night I was especially glad I had company out to my car.

I hope something substantial happens. This guy needs to leave the graduate program.

Abandoning Lexx, Labyrinths, and Centurions

TV Review: Lexx.

The Lexx: I am the Lexx. I am the most powerful weapon of destruction in the two universes. I was grown on the Cluster, which is ruled by His Shadow. The food was good there. My captain is Stanley Tweedle. I blow up planets for him.

I found series one online, liked it, then ventured to get the rest from Netflix. It has some fun stuff, like Lexx (the ship), Kai (the dead man), and at the beginning 790 (the robot head). Unfortunately, it seems the writers only know a few gags, like Zev’s refusal to sleep with horn-dog Stanley, and Stan’s eagerness to get laid leading them all into trouble. However, after season after season of the same old hat, I got bored. So, I’m finishing up with the last disk of the last season, just to see how it all ends and who ends up dead, but I’ve skipped about half of the last season. I don’t think I’ll miss much.

Movie Review: Pan’s Labyrinth.

Carmen: The captain has been so good to us... Please, Ofelia, call him father. It's just a word, Ofelia, just a word.

Do not take the kids to see this flick. Yes, there’s a child in the movie, but there’s a reason it’s rated R. Okay, we start out as one might expect, a fairy-tale voice over, introduce the girl and her mom, show some carved stones…Then we get to the step-father’s camp in Fascist Spain, 1944 and the fairy tale veneer slips away as the captain’s brutal side comes out and Ofelia meets a creepy faun who tells her she is a magic princess. Add some escalation, some bloodshed, and some creatures and the result is a lush and creepy story.

TV Review: Rome.

Lucius Vorenus: It makes no sense. We should have been stopped by now. Why is Rome not defended?
Titus Pullo: Our boys scared 'em off, eh?
Lucius Vorenus: Soldiers of the Republic do not run, so it must be a stratagem, a trick.
Titus Pullo: It's a good trick.
Lucius Vorenus: Unless the gods have abandoned Rome... If Mars were watching, he would not allow such a disgrace.
Titus Pullo: Maybe he was havin' a crap and missed it.
-Rome Season One, Episode Three

I’d heard about this one a bit, but didn’t hear much beyond “it’s good” so last week I decided to find out for myself. I’ve gotten through the first two disks of Season one (five episodes) and I can see why people like it. Okay, here’s the skinny: You have a few circles of characters – those around Ceasar and those around Pompey (Ceasar’s friend turned rival) and they’re in various levels of society, from slave, to soldier, to aristocrat. The focus is largely on Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus, two soldiers, but you also get into the home and mind of Atia of the Julii, the mother of Octavian and a conniver if ever there was one. It’s a fairly complicated set-up, and don’t worry if you don’t get everyone straight in the first episode, it’ll get clearer as you watch more.

One of the most interesting parts of the series is the contrast between Titus and Lucius. In their own ways, they’re both pretty brutal men, but they both have their redeeming moments, too. So, they end up see-sawing a bit between who’s doing the right thing – kind of neat. Just when you get to a point where you can say Lucius is the more noble of the two, he goes and does something that makes Titus look good in comparison.

Also fun – all the historical bits interlaced throughout. I love their use of graffiti, and the political intrigue is cool. Another bonus: James Purefoy (aka the Black Prince in A Knight’s Tale) as Mark Antony.