Battleangel | Personal

Pretty slow day over here. I baked skillet bread and made a pine garland for the front door. That is pretty much it. Does it seem silly? A little maybe, but the reason I indulge in such activities is not to become homemaker of the year exactly. Actually it is a dark streak in my personality that tells me to never be truly satisfied with the accomplishments of others. Also I have too much free time and I can only sleep so many hours each day. Well, enough of self analyzing ..

On a more mental level I have been considering the future of my nonexistent home cinema. My credibility is at stake here so I have to do something and soon. If not, this will be another dead project for the failure hall of fame. And I can tell you that is is becoming quite crowded there so …
There are two things holding me back here - expenses and multiple choices. I remember a time (I wonder if it was last year?) when it took me like one (1) month just to select and buy a single SVIDEO-SCART cable. And that was really FAST anyway.
I suppose that is what is ultimately delaying the HTPC. There are six or seven of these difficult choices to make. Oh, curse this ambivalence!
So, in the light of the recent fall in DVD player prices, I am forced to rethink the decision. Can and will I ever get the HTPC to perform and feel equal to a stand-alone unit? And if so, to what price? Players can now be found for as little as US$90 in Sweden and US$50 in the USA. I’m not going to get one of those but it is a clear indication that prices are falling and more prominent brands like Pioneer, Sony and Philips will hopefully be forced to follow.
This will be one hell of a purchase frenzy. But one that has to be carried through or the growing collection of DVDs will be in vain.

Elsewhere .. the annual Nobel price ceremony is over. Thankfully. Is it just me or is this becoming more of a circus show every year? And I’m not talking about the actual entertainment, which happened to be an actual circus show. Confusing? I read somewhere that the price is the single most effective advertisement for Sweden abroad. Go figure.
Apart from advertising Sweden and awarding scientific accomplishments, the third pillar seems to be to produce gossip and to hold a limited fashion competition. I don’t know about other countries but the Swedish television are actually live during the entire ceremony. It’s about as exciting as to watch paint dry and it pisses me off a little more every year. Alfred Nobel would turn in his grave if he could see this.
Another longstanding reason that I loathe the Nobel price is that one of the most outstanding scientists of the last century was never awarded. I’m referring, once again, to Nikola Tesla. I know I should let it go but I just can not.

I think that is all for the moment.