War crimes museum opening in Tokyo

The Sunday Times reports that it is a small museum situated inside a Christian institution in northwest Tokyo. It hardly seems to balance the memorial to 14 war criminals buried at the Yasukuni Shrine, which has been at the centre of controversy as Japanese politician have visited it, much to the consternation of Chinese and Korean politicians.

The Japan Times reports that the Women's Active Museum on War and Peace, established by public donations, will open on 1 August.

It will provide visitors with information about wartime atrocities through its collections of books, videos, photo panels and other documents, including court materials including the use of 200,000 women as sex slaves.

We are all Israelis now 3

The metro entrance bag searches continued today. It looks like a 3rd attack could happen anyday.

The rubbish bins have been removed from all metro stations. They were removed the first time when the IRA were bombing London and were only put back in the last few years.

It's ironic that when the IRA declare peace, the bins have been removed as the bombers' mantle has passed to another group. However, The Times said the announcement was timed for maximum publicity.

We are all Israelis now 2

On entering a metro station I was confronted by half a dozen policeman who demanded to search my bag.

I speculate there were fears of a third attack on the 3-week anniversary of 7/7.

We are all Israelis now

I noticed 2 armed policeman on riding on the metro at King's Cross station today. (The 7/7 bombers fanned out from there before detonating.)

The UK is becoming like Israel now.

Sky Blue

I saw Sky Blue AKA Wonderful days, a 2003 Korean post-apocalyptic anime.

I was very impressed with the animation. The rain, reflections, foreground and background in/out of focus was well done.

The plot was not very original and it reminded me of a Logan's Run / Akira cross.

The character's were lightly sketched out but there was just enough background to animate them.

The US dub didn't sound too bad although it will be interesting to compare it with a subtitled version.

I look forward to seeing more anime from a new player in Asia. It demonstrates that S Korea is breaking into world cinema.

7/7 bombers fanned out from King's Cross Station

The speculation by "intelligence experts" I posted on 7/7 has been confirmed by the police: 4 suspected suicide bombers were seen arriving at King's Cross from Luton by train.

B+1 = P/6

The metro was empty this morning. 5x more people could have and they would have got a seat in my carriage.

On the other hand, the road was congested by cars, no doubt taking advantage of the bombs making the congestion charge go ahead.

Bombs' bonus

No need to pay the GBP8 congestion charge to drive into the city centre today!!

Now, if only the bombers had pulled their fingers out they could have gone to work on Tuesday and saved the city from the Olympics. Doh!! They probably still had hanger-overs from Live-8.

Single bomber theory

I've just heard that it might be possible for one bomber (or team) could have dropped off all 4 bombs at Kings Cross station as all the trains which exploded pass through it as does the bus route, normally.

However, the bus had been diverted away from Kings Cross, just before it exploded.

Unbloodied & Unbowed: 2 faces of 7/7

....Across the road, I saw the A6 coach. My heart leapt as I had taken it from Stansted Airport to Golders Green in the northwest after which it went to the centre. If I could get on I could get back to Golders Green. I waved the driver down. I got in expectantly but did not receive the reception I was expecting:

Me: Are you going to Golders Green?
Coach driver: No
Me: But aren't you going past it on the way to the airport?
Coach driver: It's closed.
Me: Couldn't you drop me off nearby. please?
Coach driver: I can't drop you off where you want. Don't you know what's going on?
Me: Are you going anywhere near Golders Green?
Coach driver: No

With that I slumped off the coach. Well, at least he stopped!!

As I stood planning my next move, I saw another A6 coach and my resolve prepared drove me to a second attempt to hitch a ride:

Me: Are you going to Golders Green?
Coach driver 2: Yes

Me: Can I get off there, please?
Coach driver 2: Yes

I got on gladly, just as the shower turned into a downpour.

By the time we reached Golders Green, I spied the first coach....

I got off and managed to get a bus a few minutes later.

A call to the office and a document was emailed to me by 2pm. No terrorist was going to stop me writing my reports.

Beaten by the Bombs

I tried to use the metro today but the bombers struck me by freezing my train just as I had got in it at 9pm.

So, another a second date in history will conjour up images of hate, violence, pain and death. After 9/11, the world will speak of 7/7.

We, frustrated sardines thought it was just another transport breakdown and cursed under our breaths as we were thrown off. We trooped over to a bus-stop to join the snaking queue.

After watching a swollen bus go by, I managed to get on its partner. Aha, I thought I might beat the system but little did I know that my hubris was about to be punished. As I reached the home of Sherlock Holmes @ Baker Street, I was thrown off public transport for the second time today, as the bus driver refused to go further.

At 10am, I found out there were bombs on a bus as well as the metros. It was time to join another queue. Bus after bus flew by without stopping. The few that stopped only excreted their human cargo without feeding on yet more.

A few plucky souls tried to slip in through the back doors but the vigilant drivers threaten to stop driving unless the "white coat" got off.

I saw few taxis but those I saw carried their privileged singletons.

The bewildered crowds beside me tried to use their mobile phones but the networks were overloaded. So, in our hunger for news, we watched gaped at the TVs in the Sony shop.

The buses slowly died out.

The gloom was intensified by a light drizzle that lowered the moods of those who walked.

After waiting 2 hours, I was told that the buses weren't running in the centre.

I was routed and after conceding defeat, I decided to retreat. I aimlessly waited for a bus to leave the centre but none came.

Then, bursting through the shower, I saw my knight on a white charger....

Burnt by the Olympic torch

So, they're are going to be stuck with cost over-runs, delays and congestion.

If the city wanted to improve its infrastructure, regenerate dying areas, encourage sport & promote tourism, it could have spent its money in those areas, directly and saved a bundle.

Instead they've got a prestige project that'll get a few weeks TV coverage but none in the US because of the time difference, unless their competitors have a shot at a medal.

Bore of the Worlds

[Spoilers]

What a waste of space from S & C. The former can create better instead of ripping off others & himself and the latter can act better.

War of the Worlds didn't know if it wanted to be a human issues film, a blockbuster or a book with voices and moving pictures. It failed on all 3 counts.

I didn't believe in C as a father, even though he was to be portrayed as an abysmal one.

The film was a road-trip which metamorphosed into a haunted house flick.

The alien tripods looked liked they had gone on vacation from being the Matrix's gardeners. The horror in the cellar had taken a dry-land holiday from the Abyss and the aliens on a field trip were ET's dark side family.

The action sequences were not engaging and unrealistic:

How does C manage to drive down a motorway with broken down cars? Why does he conveniently find some grenades? What possesses his fellow prisoners to try and save him when they didn't bother with the last person who became an alien snack? How does his son survive?

Alas, the ending is faithful to the book but S could have actually been unfaithful to it to give it a true Hollywood climax, which would have been a lot more interesting.

S, I defended you when you made AI and C, I admired the risk you took in making Jerry Magure but you have both gone too far now. Do you really need the money? I'm glad you're getting a percentage of the "profits".