RoboCop 3

No, it didn't help. Music was great, but it didn't help. You understand its gonna suck 5 minutes in when we see this kid. You know from that moment, that kid will have more screen time than RoboCop (or the person who appears to be RoboCop) and she is the reason this movie was lowered to 15 instead for 18. She's only there to relate to a kid audience and therefore all the extra gadgets is just merchandize for kids (who still couldn't see it). There are good part in there though, the first scene with RoboCop is good if you look past the exchangeable gadgets and it would have been very interesting to delve into the mind when he disobeys a direct order (hinting that the human side is taking over). There are also some funny parts that work, mostly involving the breakdown of the OCP corporation. Also, most action scenes work, but they can't save the movie.

It's sad it didn't work. The second movie actually hinted for this one in the end when the CEO of OPC escaped his sentence at the end. But there is so much wrong with this movie even excluding that the old CEO isn't even around anymore. First, as mentioned the kid, no one care about the kid, we want RoboCop. I could stand the kid in the second movie as I actually can believe kids are evil, but here it is just some computer wiz-kid that even hijacks an ED-209. It's ridicules. Secondly, why all these gadgets? It just look ridicules as well. Thirdly, they killed of officer Lewis. Why? She wanted out or what? And also they missed to use this emotional problem with the psychology of RoboCop. The first thing we see him do in the movie is disobeying a direct order and instead save her, but when she dies we get almost nothing except a very short revenge scene that more or less fails. His only friend and never do we see him grieve except when she is placed upon an alter in a church (not symbolic at all, no). Fourthly, the jetpack. Oh my God, it's here we see it's an old movie as the special effects have aged. The other movies kept it simple and therefore don't seem to have aged that much, but here we have RoboCop flying through a battle. Good Grief.

Lastly, what the hell happened to his family? They are mentioned, but never show any impact other than that. It was a missed opportunity, both in this movie and the second one. They should have explored it more or let it be their neighborhood being destroyed. What better way to show the scars he have instead of a faceless group of people (even though he's portrayed like a messiah in all three films). Instead he gets a "new family" in the end. So much wasted potential. 

Mr. Roboto

Stayed at home... again. Reason for this was due to a birthday celebration of a freshman yesterday. A very good celebration I have to say. It included tales of laxative tea  (fortunately from an earlier gathering I was not part of), someone with a Brian Johnson hat, Clark Kent glasses and a sinister mustache passing out 3 times (not me), alcohol, a chocolate cake, chocolate, mutated/genetically modified cheese doodles (they were enormous), facebook hijackings and breaking up people, more alcohol and me sitting as a DJ at the afterparty. Yeah, me as DJ, incredible is it not? They hardly complained at my choices, the only time was when the hostess wanted certain songs or that incident when I put on Kate Perry's Hot n Cold and highly misjudge my audience (for those not knowing why I have a soft spot for that song it has to do with this road trip when the song was played all the time on every radio station until you had to love it). At least I was able to the end the whole night with Jon & Vangelis's I'll Find My Way Home. A very fitting end... 3 AM in the morning. Class started 10 AM. No way  I would make that.

Instead I stayed at home and got the good news that the municipality is paying me 200 SEK (€ 20 or $ 25) extra for using my phone during the early voting. Also a nice package of the RoboCop Trilogy. Only seen the first movie before and revisiting it was a nice experience. It has aged very well, both with its futuristic look and story as well the special effects it used. Yes, you can see the stop-motion, but it doesn't hurt the movie in any way. And the actors are really funny to watch, especially one of the bad guys, Clarence Boddicker who many will recognize as Red Foreman from That 70's Show. More or less blew my mind when I realized that. Also the music is fantastic, especially the RoboCop theme. It's damn epic.

The sequel then? Well... not as good as the first one. At least all recurring characters were played by the same actors and the first part of the movie is kinda good and very deep-layered, up to the point when they dismantle RoboCop (looking to much like the scene in the first movie). And the music is not that bad either, although it's a pity they didn't use the main theme from the original movie, but the Leonard Rosenman works well. Although, it sounds awfully similar to other works of Rosenman (like the soundtrack to the animated Lord of the Rings). After the "resurrection" and reprograming of RoboCop it went out the drain more or less. The story more or less lost it grip on me. Maybe because it didn't center around the psychology of RoboCop anymore and more or less dumped his family that could have been an interesting angle to explore as he might have searched for his humanity. Instead we almost completely focused on the evil corporation and the game behind "the scenes". But then again, the action saves it from crashing down so it is a decent movie.

Still got the third one left, although I have really bad feeling about that. No Peter Weller and many other actors are gone, the age limit is 15 instead of 18 like the first movies, but on the other hand the original score is back. But will it be enough to save this movie? 

Soon Forgotten

Played a bit of Brütal Legend this weekend (even though I probably should have done some maths instead). Awesome game! Mostly due to the music, absolutely love most of it. Sadly enough, the experience are hampered a bit with my TV still not working properly. When it's darker on the screen it's really hard to see some times. Really something I should fix... when I take time for it... when I don't have everything else to worry about. It's never gonna happen ain't it? Probably have to settle with cruising this heavy metal landscape blasting out music over the vicinity for a long time... at least the insurance works 2 years more... if I don't forget it.

Talking about forgetting things, it seems that I missed the ceremony for the students taking out their exams... yeah! Different reasons for that, first... I actually thought it was in October, lots of time for that. Secondly, I haven't even taken the graduation certificate as I been busy with different things. Mostly due to me missing when the administrator took vacation and therefor couldn't register my grades, then I've been busy with the European Studies, Economics and the election. Very decent excuses I must say. Well, as I'm still studying there is no hurry, especially since I'm taking courses that strengthens my abilities to get job. Better wait till I got a job so it doesn't look too awful with someone who has studied all his life and never had a full-time job (excluding the summer jobs which hardly has anything to do with my education).

Oh, also, the bloody headphones died on me this weekend. Not both, but just the left one for some reason. So I ordered a new one... if they don't arrive until Tuesday I probably go to town and buy them directly and keep the others as a back-up. They really need to enhance the lifespan of these.

I'll Wait

This election is kinda weird. No one is sure what really happened and the last votes that was counted didn't change anything dramatic. Except that one municipality in Värmland screwed up so that we might have to redo the parliament election here. Which means I have to spend 2 1/2 weeks more in the polling stations. Hey, I'm glad for the cash, but I'm already falling behind in the economics and probably would fall even more behind with this on my mind. Although it would be really interesting to see the campaign going on. Värmland has 9-10 parliamentary seats which can't give the red-greens a majority, but might give the Alliance the needed 2-3 seats till their own majority. My guess is (as far is I see it) that the Social Democrats (S) and the Green Party (Mp) would lose most of their votes to ensure the majority and the neutralization of the Sweden Democrats (Sd). Why not the Left Party (V) you might ask? Well for good and bad that's the most ideological party at the moment and they would never make this faustian bargain as they would see it.

Also it's talk about a full re-election we haven't had since the early 20th century. The question is if Sd would muster the support once again. Those who don't agree with them more than that the immigration question have given the old parties a real scare and might as well support the older parties again. Of course a full re-election is very slim and would probably not happen. Interesting enough it's mostly the red-greens that voices that sentiment with the prospect of a minority government in place. Especially since S has ruled in minority government most of modern Sweden. Another funny thing (for me at least) is that it's the Liberals (Fp) that would have needed more votes to ensure a majority. Tactical voting being in our favor it seems. Go for it. FOUR MORE YEARS (In majority please)!

Land of Confussion

Well, the election is over now, but no one seems to know how the political landscape looks like. At least we had fun counting the votes during Sunday night. No problems what so ever with those I worked with. A really good group (even if I was the only one voting for the Alliance). A very low average age and completely unexperienced when it come to counting the votes, but no problems occurred. Still pretty beat after working from 6 am Sunday morning till 2 am Monday morning. Never again shall I complain that the voting process goes so slow.

Who won then? The Alliance become the biggest block to win with 49,3 %, but didn't achieve a majority of the seats. But they got a higher percentage of votes together with a higher voter turnout than last election. All this attributed to Moderaterna (M)as they were the only one that went forward when the others to different degrees fell back (Folkpartiet (Fp)managed best with only a loss of 0,4 % so they will at the moment gain the vice-prime minister post). The biggest loser is the Social Democrats (S) that dangles at 30,9 % and with just 0,9 % above the second biggest party (M). This could change with the re-counting of all votes that are supposed to finish tomorrow. In my own opinion (and others that feel the current parliament with the Swedish Democrats (SD) are unworthy a democracy even though the prefer the left) hopes that the Alliance will gain a majority and with it securing a stable government (a bonus would be if M overtake S as the biggest party, although they haven't had this low support since 1911 meaning this would just be adding insult to injury).

The result, as you probably guessed could have been much better (come on, at least 10 % for the liberals would have been nice or that they could have been 3d largest party instead of 4th... again). SD was also not such a nice surprise although it may not have been so unexpected when they were on everyones lips at the end. The only light I can see is that they actually have to argue against them and all their politics. Sad thing is I think they are here to stay, but there is one way to get rid of them. If the ruling government are able to keep the economic revival that are predicted until next election without touching them, they can pretty much argue that everything they said was a lie and argue that the system we have now is working. This pretty much means that they need to lower unemployment, stop the riots around the larger cities and diminish crime (you know, what everyone says). Hope to God the recount gives them a majority so that they don't have to trust the damned Green party.

Another One Bites The Dust

No, nothing interesting happening. The election is slowly killing me with almost 200 voters every day and when I'm not taking in votes, I'm sitting at a economic lesson or at home trying to figure out the damn excel and the exercises we have been given. If that's not enough I must finish the European Studies until monday... and I have almost no time to do it. I really need a job since my love for studies apparently kills me at the moment. Hopefully everything will turn out for the best.

How's it going in the election then? We are going for a re-election of the current government, the Red-Greens have lost all hope of winning and the only thing in the way for this glorious victory is the dark clouds of the far-right party the Swedish Democrats. All political scientist are in a frenzy. Christmas is early this time baby! Interesting for me is that the Liberals have a chance on regaining the post as the 3d largest party as well as a vice-minister post in the government as the Centre Party drops. And who knows what happens afterwards. The Social Democrats will lose power for the longest time in their history since they got the Prime Minister post in the 30's, they might fall below 30% when what's normal for them lies around 40-50%. The Red-Green coalition will dissolve and all of their current leaders will have to go (willingly or not). It's so f***ing interesting I can't believe it's happening. The worlds most victorious democratic political party is losing its grip over the government. Who knows when they might return (or if they do). FOUR MORE YEAR! FOUR MORE YEARS!

Phoenix Rising

Blog post Nr 301... maybe I should have waited with Nr 300 as I now actually have interesting things to talk about. And what may this be? PARTY TIME! After missing most of the freshman weeks I decided to make the last one the best. And boy, it was AWESOME. Donning the 4 year old white (it was at least white when I got it) overall I haven't used for maybe a year with the red t-shirt. The armor of the political scientist. Rising from the grey ashes of boredom I awakened as a burning phoenix riding forward on my... orange steed (a bus). Like a saviour I appeared before the freshmen with the knowledge of 4 years of studies and experiences of former days with SVIK. Giving my services of more manpower to the third group I was back where I belonged when I was a freshman. Just the aura that emitted from me pushed us forward so that our group one the first competition and I stepped aside, but the victories continued (or that's how I will look at it).

Onward into the town core like a raging river hunting points to push the third group up to the top. After the time has run out it was time to recuperate before the dinner. The old guard, we who have been members of SVIk more than a year, joined forces to make sure that we all had the same level. We started to transform into the four riders of the apocalypse bringing the message that this will be the hour our final ride starts. Then we start the ride... and one of the others just disappears. He runs in and say it times to move. I and another jumps at the call to arms while the last take some time before leaving. We get to the door... and he's gone. Disappeared into thin air. What the Hell? Ever heard of the Bro Code dude? Well, we found him at least at the place we're going with the lame excuse that we weren't fast enough. I call bulls**t. Anyway, this would probably be just a parentheses in the quest toward the dinner if for not the fact that I actually stood for the music. A shame that I haven't updated it since 2007 or something.

Ahh, the Dinner. A pleasant evening with food and some drinks. Sitting besides some old friends and a lot of unknown woman. Too summarize the rest of the evening it was a lot of lip gloss, winning some chocolate, giving a girl a piggyback ride (the result for those who don't know was face to the asphalt, I never was that strong), muddy freshman wine, a trip into town and back, a cigaret and walking in the rain. And then we have today. Yeah, bed ridden till ca 16:00, exceptions when I hugged the toilet turning the stomach inside out. If it was the cigaret, the freshman wine or the other alcohol I leave unsaid. Well worth it!

300

Yeah, this will probably not be a special 300 post, mostly since I have very little time at the moment. Too much work at my hands. First it was the ones I knew about, the pre-election voting and the election day. Every other day I have something. Then when that's not happening, there is the economics lessons which I'm falling behind. Not by a huge amount and I can probably sync up when everything else fades away. It doesn't help that I miss a lot of classes when I'm sitting and taking votes. And then we have the unexpected work that falls into my laps. Or unexpected... it's a question of definitions. The European studies came back to bite me. Yeah, I probably could have gone deeper into that. Good thing is, I don't have to redo all of it, just 3 out of 6 questions. Not that hard if I could write them all over the course of two days in total. The bad news is that they are supposed (I believe, it doesn't says so straight out) to be done September 20, the day after the election and the same day as an economic assignment hand in... which we haven't got yet. Sounds like a fun time is ahead... Can someone write it for me?

Beat It

So what have I been up to since the last update? Working with the election and collecting early votes and studying Economics B. Not even a whole week and I'm pretty beat. At the end of the day I'm walking like a zombie back home while my eyelids constantly tries to fall to the ground. Two more weeks than it's over. I still hope the current government continues (and most polls predict that thats the case), especially since it appears that the Social Democrats (the largest opposing party and formerly the only ruling party of Sweden) have resorted to vote for people instead for arguing why they shall vote for them (sorry for the swedish news, but no english speaking news site seems to be talking about this for the moment). All in all you begin to wonder if the danes are correct that we need observers during the election.

What else? Oh yeah, I think I'm getting sick. My throat hurts and I start to feel the early signs of a cold. The seniors who voted must be contaminating me. Nah, more likely that I've isolated me for such a long time that when I meet a lot of people every day I'm very weak towards all the viruses and bacteria's floating around. Maybe should have trained out more to boost the natural defenses. Oh well, bring on the chocolate so we can treat this disease.