colour me skeptical

Jackson announces third Hobbit film

This had better be because he is including more and more of the original story than he had planned to, not because (a) he is adding more and more Peter Jackson-originated story or (b) he wants to spin out the money-making opportunities even further.

I confess that, when I went back and watched the first part of FOTR recently, I was less pleased with it than when I saw it originally. So much was left out, so much was played for comic relief, so much was altered from the original... it was like a meal you remember with some pleasure that, when you go to cook it again, just doesn't taste nearly as good as the one you recall.

two links for me to save

Given how much I like

cycling and

camping.

I've often thought of emulating Eric Newby's Round Ireland in Low Gear in Scotland. But in the 20+ years since he wrote it (I remember doing the book launch work for that...), someone else has probably hit on it.

we thought we had it bad in DC

A massive power cut has caused disruption across northern India, including in the capital, Delhi.

It hit a swathe of the country affecting more than 300 million people in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan states.

The flip side?

The power cut happened at 02:30 local time on Monday (2100 GMT Sunday) after India's Northern Grid network collapsed.

[Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde] told the BBC that he had been informed about the problem at 05:30.

"Within two hours we tried to restore the railways, airport and Delhi Metro services and power supply to essential services, including the railways and hospitals, was restored by 08:00."

...

By early afternoon, 80% of the supply had been restored, Mr Shinde said.

From 300 million out of power to 80% restored in ... maybe 12 hours? Sounds like Pepco should be outsourced...