TTTNE 475 - for the Honour of Greyskull!

[honeyed chicken]

5 hours ago, Buckwheat said:

I wasn't really trying to compare the weight of the news about GOT to Notre Dame, it was just what was happening at the time. I was really only trying to point out how GOT blew up. Just clarifying that.

Think of it this way: These old buildings are basically being renovated all the time. The Notre Dame that existed a week ago was not the same it was 600 years ago or just after it was built. Parts of it have been repaired, exchanged, renovated, repainted many times now. This is just one more in the line of these renovations, and they are going to try to make it as alike as it used to be before the fire as possible. This is how these old buildings are kept alive.

Apparently Notre Dame has suffered great damages after the French Revolution, and they managed to repair it after that too.

I hope so too.

I have never been to Paris myself. Now I wonder if that will cause any drop or increase in the price of tickets and tourist accomodations to Paris.

Some of my work is on what we in America call "historic" buildings (basically before 1900). You are quite right Buck, they are changing all the time, but fortunately now there is in historic preservation circles a strong effort to use materials as close to original as possible. I'm sure the effort to restore Notre Dame will attract the best of the best of renovators and experts. It will be a huge challenge, but ultimately I think successful in capturing the essence of the place.

I have a vague memory that there was a cathedral in Dresden Germany that was lost in a fire bombing during WW 2, since rebuilt. Does anyone know if that is correct?

My guess: this fire will result in even more tourists than before coming to see what's left and to watch the restoration - and probably raise prices.

4 hours ago, RhaenysBee said:

Oh dear I really hope that’s not the case, that would be crushing.

Yes, it would be.

From what I hear, the likely cause was the renovations that were ongoing. Mrs. Chicken said she heard on the radio that the attic space in the cathedral (between the ceiling and the roof) was like a forest. Having been in spaces like that in churches, I can begin to imagine what it would be like in an immense building like Notre Dame.

[Buckwheat]

13 hours ago, RhaenysBee said:

You are actually right. I didn’t even think of that. It does make it feel better, so thanks for pointing that out. 

Glad to help.

13 hours ago, RhaenysBee said:

I think it’ll cause an increase if anything. People will probably get a sense of urgency to go and see it while they can. At least that’s my guess.

I agree, that would have been my thinking too.

13 hours ago, RhaenysBee said:

I do recommend visiting Paris. I’ve been there four times and all were magical in their own right and I wish I had been there even more times. I also have great sister stories from Paris.

Well, you tell me that now that the prices of going there will rise? :p

But yes, I am sure it is a worthy place to visit. It is a very ... touristy city though. By which I mean there are probably crowds of tourists everywhere at all times and seasons, and ... that just sounds exhausting. I mean, I know Paris is an important city, but I also think it has been hyped too much in popular culture and by the tourism industry as the place one must definitely visit. But then what do I know, maybe it is really all that they say about it.

9 hours ago, honeyed chicken said:

Some of my work is on what we in America call "historic" buildings (basically before 1900). You are quite right Buck, they are changing all the time, but fortunately now there is in historic preservation circles a strong effort to use materials as close to original as possible. I'm sure the effort to restore Notre Dame will attract the best of the best of renovators and experts. It will be a huge challenge, but ultimately I think successful in capturing the essence of the place.

I agree.

9 hours ago, honeyed chicken said:

I have a vague memory that there was a cathedral in Dresden Germany that was lost in a fire bombing during WW 2, since rebuilt. Does anyone know if that is correct?

Yes, pretty much. Dresden was one of the cities most affected by WW2, it was basically almost completely demolished. The church you probably speak about is the one where they partly used the original stones from the building. The colour of the stone is yellowish/ocre, but the old parts are scorched and black. So the church is now in several shades of colour, and the burned stones are visible as black rectangles on the facade.

I forgot what the church is called, but I remember visiting it.

[Buckwheat]

Other news: Was just in the cinema to see a new Slovene movie with some friends. It was a surprisingly relatable one, about a woman in her late 20s who has a degree, but is unable to find a job.

Then we sat in the café at the cinema and talked for a very long time until they basically turned off all the lights in the cinema and we took the hint to get out.

At work today, the bottle on the water cooler was empty. I had to change it, but I wasn't strong enough, so one of my students did it. I wished for Josh Chan to come by and change the water cooler. (You didn't seriously think I would go a whole day without a CXG reference, did you?)

[Nazca Barsavi]

8 hours ago, Buckwheat said:

I forgot what the church is called, but I remember visiting it.

 

Basically it's called Notre Dame too.

[Buckwheat]

26 minutes ago, Nazca Barsavi said:

 

Basically it's called Notre Dame too.

I know it was something lady/femal/dame-like!

[honeyed chicken]

3 hours ago, Nazca Barsavi said:

 

Basically it's called Notre Dame too.

Thanks! and WOW!!

[RhaenysBee]

On 4/17/2019 at 11:59 PM, Buckwheat said:

Glad to help.

I agree, that would have been my thinking too.

Well, you tell me that now that the prices of going there will rise? :p

But yes, I am sure it is a worthy place to visit. It is a very ... touristy city though. By which I mean there are probably crowds of tourists everywhere at all times and seasons, and ... that just sounds exhausting. I mean, I know Paris is an important city, but I also think it has been hyped too much in popular culture and by the tourism industry as the place one must definitely visit. But then what do I know, maybe it is really all that they say about it.

I agree.

Yes, pretty much. Dresden was one of the cities most affected by WW2, it was basically almost completely demolished. The church you probably speak about is the one where they partly used the original stones from the building. The colour of the stone is yellowish/ocre, but the old parts are scorched and black. So the church is now in several shades of colour, and the burned stones are visible as black rectangles on the facade.

I forgot what the church is called, but I remember visiting it.

Well, I suppose that’s true. But Paris really is stunningly beautiful so it’s worth the visit. Also, the flood of tourists is usually an issue only around popular sights. And like in every city, the coziest nooks with the best atmosphere are usually in the hidden streets where tourists don’t go.  Then again, if one visits Paris, one can’t not go to see the Louvre (not the Mona Lisa, there’s nothing even remotely interesting about that, the Ancient History exhibitions), Montmartre and Versailles.

Everything else is easily viewable from a sight seeing bus. I mean climbing the Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triomphe did nothing for me, and Champs Élysées is really just a busy street with heavy traffic. Lafayette is much nicer for shopping, the rooftop bar offers a great view. I did love the Invalides and Musée d’Orsay’s clock view tower, if one has more time in the city. Disneyland is completely passable.

In all honesty though, I do prefer Rome just a little bit over Paris, because I’m a sucker for ancient history and the cuisine is better and Italians are nicer. Venice is also a strong match, though very small and thus way more crowded than Paris. And now all this rambling makes me want to get on a plane and go somewhere nice. 

On 4/18/2019 at 12:04 AM, Buckwheat said:

Other news: Was just in the cinema to see a new Slovene movie with some friends. It was a surprisingly relatable one, about a woman in her late 20s who has a degree, but is unable to find a job.

Then we sat in the café at the cinema and talked for a very long time until they basically turned off all the lights in the cinema and we took the hint to get out.

At work today, the bottle on the water cooler was empty. I had to change it, but I wasn't strong enough, so one of my students did it. I wished for Josh Chan to come by and change the water cooler. (You didn't seriously think I would go a whole day without a CXG reference, did you?)

How is Slovene film industry? What kinda films do you have? And how is their quality? 

At my previous job we had a person to change the water cooler. But he wasn’t a little buff Asian  

and now everything is closed and the entire city is completely empty so I’m at an empty ice cream parlor because I’m procrastinating spring cleaning. Maybe I’ll eat another overpriced ice cream on my way home. 

[Jen'ari]

I don’t know why but I’ve never really liked Paris THAT much to be honest, maybe it’s the people being so arrogant and rude I don’t know, or maybe they just are rude if you’re English as they seem to hate us!.

[Meera of Tarth]

For me Paris is great " as a whole", the different architecture, and lots of different spots, while you can just sat in a café and everything is deliciously cute.

It reminds me of the center of my city but "bigger" 

[Jen'ari]

I don't know, I've just never fallen in love with the place, I'd rather go to Rome or Madrid any day over Paris!, but then I love Spain and Italy,my favourite sports person and the football team I follow is Italian and my partner follows a Spanish team, and I love the culture of both Countries so much!, France I'm meh about.

[Buckwheat]

4 hours ago, RhaenysBee said:

In all honesty though, I do prefer Rome just a little bit over Paris, because I’m a sucker for ancient history and the cuisine is better and Italians are nicer. Venice is also a strong match, though very small and thus way more crowded than Paris. And now all this rambling makes me want to get on a plane and go somewhere nice.

I was in both Rome and Venice. Venice is stinky.

4 hours ago, RhaenysBee said:

How is Slovene film industry? What kinda films do you have? And how is their quality?

For a few decades, it was horrible. I don't think I have seen a good Slovene movie from between 1975 and 2005. But in recent years, there have been some good new ones.

My favourites are still the old classics, though, some of them black and white. If somebody asked me for a recommendation, I would recommend them to see Dolina miru (Valley of Peace), Ne joči, Peter (Don't Cry, Peter), To so gadi (Vipers? Not sure how to translate this title, I know there is a subtitled English version somewhere), Moj ata, socialistični kulak (My Dad, the Socialist Kulak), or Vesna - depending on what they like. Those are all ... before 1970 I guess? Old anyway. Maybe Gadi and Socialist are newer than that, but not much.

What about Hungarian film industry?

4 hours ago, Bittersweet Distractor said:

I don’t know why but I’ve never really liked Paris THAT much to be honest, maybe it’s the people being so arrogant and rude I don’t know, or maybe they just are rude if you’re English as they seem to hate us!.

Have you seen the movie A Good Year (it has Russell Crowe in it)? It has some funny scenes that illustrate how the French see the Brits.

[Jen'ari]

33 minutes ago, Buckwheat said:

Have you seen the movie A Good Year (it has Russell Crowe in it)? It has some funny scenes that illustrate how the French see the Brits.

I've not seen it I'm afraid, I might try to though, is it good?, I'm only half British though, the other half is a nation other European countries seem to like even less .

[Buckwheat]

1 hour ago, Bittersweet Distractor said:

I've not seen it I'm afraid, I might try to though, is it good?, I'm only half British though, the other half is a nation other European countries seem to like even less .

Yes, it is funny. It has a distinct lacm of lightsaber fights though, I'm afraid.

[Jen'ari]

15 minutes ago, Buckwheat said:

Yes, it is funny. It has a distinct lacm of lightsaber fights though, I'm afraid.

You're not really selling it to me here .

[RhaenysBee]

On 4/19/2019 at 6:47 PM, Buckwheat said:

I was in both Rome and Venice. Venice is stinky.

For a few decades, it was horrible. I don't think I have seen a good Slovene movie from between 1975 and 2005. But in recent years, there have been some good new ones.

My favourites are still the old classics, though, some of them black and white. If somebody asked me for a recommendation, I would recommend them to see Dolina miru (Valley of Peace), Ne joči, Peter (Don't Cry, Peter), To so gadi (Vipers? Not sure how to translate this title, I know there is a subtitled English version somewhere), Moj ata, socialistični kulak (My Dad, the Socialist Kulak), or Vesna - depending on what they like. Those are all ... before 1970 I guess? Old anyway. Maybe Gadi and Socialist are newer than that, but not much.

What about Hungarian film industry?

Have you seen the movie A Good Year (it has Russell Crowe in it)? It has some funny scenes that illustrate how the French see the Brits.

What’s a place that you visited and liked?  joke aside, yeah Venice does smell of canals, but oh well. It’s worth it. 

Roughly the same. I think 1980 is the line I would draw for us, anything between 1980 and 2010ish is complete utter trash. Around 2010 things started picking up and artists seem to have found their feet in terms of topics and style. They have maxed out the world war and socialism topic by 1980 and then jumped on the fourth class Hollywood movie remakes bandwagon as the whole... whatever is that process called? Democratic transformation(?) unfolded. Today they seem to be making movies again that are worth making which is a beautiful thing. I’m not too too familiar with Hungarian movie history, so I’m not the best person to form an opinion on it, but for me it’s the 60s that stand out. All my favorite “classic” movies are from the 1960s. 

 

[Buckwheat]

47 minutes ago, RhaenysBee said:

What’s a place that you visited and liked?  joke aside, yeah Venice does smell of canals, but oh well. It’s worth it. 

Roughly the same. I think 1980 is the line I would draw for us, anything between 1980 and 2010ish is complete utter trash. Around 2010 things started picking up and artists seem to have found their feet in terms of topics and style. They have maxed out the world war and socialism topic by 1980 and then jumped on the fourth class Hollywood movie remakes bandwagon as the whole... whatever is that process called? Democratic transformation(?) unfolded. Today they seem to be making movies again that are worth making which is a beautiful thing. I’m not too too familiar with Hungarian movie history, so I’m not the best person to form an opinion on it, but for me it’s the 60s that stand out. All my favorite “classic” movies are from the 1960s. 

Helsinki! Vienna! Also, I didn't say I disliked Venice. It was nice, despite being stinky. And also Florence, I like Florence. And Siena. And London. And Dubrovnik. I am sure I liked others that I cannot remember now. Oh, I just remembered Krakow, I also liked Krakow.

World war and socialism and stuff were popular movie topics here too. But then, I don't think there were any Hollywood remakes or whatever, that bad period was generally ... dark, pessimistic dramas and stuff. I think.

Our Internet is out. I can only use the data on my phone. It works for the forum, but isn't that good for other purposes.

[felice]

2 hours ago, Buckwheat said:

Our Internet is out. I can only use the data on my phone. It works for the forum, but isn't that good for other purposes.

That sucks - I hope it's back on soon! And I came here to post some appropriate music for the holiday

 

[Jen'ari]

12 hours ago, Buckwheat said:

Helsinki! Vienna! Also, I didn't say I disliked Venice. It was nice, despite being stinky. And also Florence, I like Florence. And Siena. And London. And Dubrovnik. I am sure I liked others that I cannot remember now. Oh, I just remembered Krakow, I also liked Krakow.

World war and socialism and stuff were popular movie topics here too. But then, I don't think there were any Hollywood remakes or whatever, that bad period was generally ... dark, pessimistic dramas and stuff. I think.

Our Internet is out. I can only use the data on my phone. It works for the forum, but isn't that good for other purposes.

Florence is lovely!, I think I actually prefer it to Venice, but I like Rome best.

Have you ever crossed the Atlantic Buck?, if you liked London I think you’d like New York too.

[Buckwheat]

3 hours ago, Bittersweet Distractor said:

Florence is lovely!, I think I actually prefer it to Venice, but I like Rome best.

Have you ever crossed the Atlantic Buck?, if you liked London I think you’d like New York too.

Nah, I have never been outside of Europe. Maybe some day ...

[Jen'ari]

2 hours ago, Buckwheat said:

Nah, I have never been outside of Europe. Maybe some day ...

If I can offer any advice it would be don’t bother with LA, when I fly over to visit my family the best bit about LA is the drive out of it!.