What should I do with my life? by Po Bronson

An article by Po Bronson at here that should get you thinking. Please check out the article at the above link.

There are 2 types of people....

There are 2 types of people in the world today. The people who waste time on the internet and the people who don't. The people who waste time on the internet (such as yourself) browse websites, read useless blogs and essentially waste the precious minutes of their lives watching Britney Spears drive a car (OMG she can drive! I see her driving OMG OMG OMG! I NEED to watch it again). The people who don't waste time on the internet are in the real world, the world that matters; living life the way it was meant to be lived. They are working their jobs, paying bills, having fun, meeting friends and essentially making their lives worth living.

Unfortunately, I, like the time wasters on the internet have succumbed to the addiction of the internet, which is as real as being addicted to cigarettes and alcohol. Anyway, now that I'm here, I might as well discuss the issues of this addiction.

The time wasters would while away hours in a day browsing websites and watching videos that neither enhance their knowledge nor contribute in any way to their personal enhancement. News on the internet is NOT the news pages on yahoo, msn or google. On the contrary, the most clicked news links on the web are not related to the important world events at all. The most popular "news" on the internet is Dumbledore being gay.

Dumbledore is not even a real person! I mean, why couldn't it at least be someone who lives in the real world, even if the news is as useless as his sexuality. Why did it have to be a fictitious character? Anyway, it just goes to show the type of wastage going on. In fact, the "news" is so proliferated on the net, that it is impossible to NOT encounter the news even by accident. Eventually, it's best to just click the link, satisfy your curiosity and move on.

The fact is that it's not that people don't have work other than browsing the internet. It's that they ignore other responsibilities in order to do so. Which is what makes the whole browsing of the internet a waste of time. Therefore, if browsing the net is taking up a significant part of your time in a day, please switch the computer off and go watch some TV. I know that watching television is a waste of time too, but at least it's not as addictive as the internet!

If you are using firefox and are unable to break the addiction, you can at least keep track of lost time using this convenient add on at this link:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1887

Tech Support

A recent conversation between my brother and Linksis' tech support proved so ludicrous that I deemed it worthy to write about it in my blog.

Too often have tech support guys complained of the technical incompetence of customers that numerous websites have been created that vividly illustrate the various idiotic antics performed by them on their computers. This example will illustrate a similar story; except with the idiot role being reversed.

My brother being technically savvy and able to solve most IT problems, rarely ever calls anyone for technical support. However, the new Linksis modem that he purchased seemed to be giving an unusual problem that even he couldn't decipher. After trying all the various solutions including resetting and reconfiguring the modem, the problem still wasn't solved. Unfortunately Linksis does not have a repair center in his country. Therefore, the only solution was to replace the modem which was still under warrantee. Reluctantly he calls the help line. The call progresses as follows:

Bro: Hello, I'm calling to report a fault in my modem model number: E6172M which is under warrantee and would like to get it replaced.
Linksis: Hello. My name is Andrea. My ID number is 04831870139J. How may I help you?
Bro: I just told you...Anyway I'm calling to report a fault with my modem model number: E6172M which is under warrantee and would like to get it replaced.
Linksis: Please tell me your modem model number Sir.
Bro (sigh): E6172M
Linksis: And you are having a problem with your modem Sir?
Bro: Yes; but it can't be fixed. I have reset and even reconfigured my modem with the same result.
Linksis: Let's try to reset the modem Sir. I will guide you through the process
Bro: aaargh.

...15 minutes later

Bro: Now are you satisfied that it is broken? I reconfigured the modem and it still does not work. We don't need to go through the reconfiguration process again.
Linksis: That is very nice sir. Have you tried reconfiguring the modem? Let's try to reconfigure the modem. I will guide you through the process.
Bro: BUT I HAVE ALREADY DONE IT! ARE YOU RETARDED?????
Linksis: You have NOT reset the modem Sir? Why don't we start from the beginning. I will guide you through the process.
Bro: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

...45 minutes later

Linksis: And are you still having the same problem Sir?
Bro: YES DAMMIT!
Linksis: Let's try something different Sir. Let's try disconnecting and reconnecting the modem. After that, let's reset and reconfigure the modem once again to make absolutely CERTAIN that the modem is faulty.
Bro: CLICK!

It was another 1 week and several phone calls with other "tech support" officers before a replacement was issued.

Needless to say, my brother never called "tech support" again.

Sarah Silverman is a poor excuse for a human being

The recent MTV Movie Awards demonstrated the level of human dignity that the world has been plunged into.

Sarah Silverman opens the show with a racist joke. Then, humiliates veteran actors and actresses and finally ridicules, insults and humiliates Paris Hilton. There's no excuse for such base behaviour. It is beneath human dignity.

Sarah Silverman continued to insult fellow actresses by referring to them as....well...watch the clip. Even if the famous Sarah Silverman uses such bad language; it is beneath my dignity to use it even to describe what she said.

The audience continued to clap her through her vicious so called "jokes", thereby endorsing and encouraging her attacks at members of the acting community. Even though the people in the audience continued to smile, their eyes indicated that the "jokes" were unwelcome and would rather have walked out than continue to listen to a person with no sense of compassion, empathy or even basic manners. Her behaviour instead demonstrated a sadistic, nasty and vile nature that sullied and depraved the entire movie awards ceremony.

What was to be a glamorous ceremony full of culture, glamour and festivities turned out ugly and disgusting after Silverman's attacks; leaving the ceremony in ruins. It would have been completely appropriate if the audience decided to leave the ceremony in disgust. However, the audience are not to blame as they too, being ill educated in the basic manners and ethics (hollywood mentality) were unable to decide what action to take in the situation.

It is important that people realize the importance of civility in society. Ethics, manners and civility are no longer taught in schools and are partly to blame for their low levels in today's world. While the media promotes, encourages and even praises bad behaviour, the people should consciously realize that it is wrong and make the effort to bring back these values into the world.

Let there be respect and dignity for everyone regardless of their race, religion, colour or status.

The Ethics of our Society

With the advancement of technology, the opportunities for the average person to steal, embezzle and commit fraud has increased tremendously. Unfortunately, opportunity is all the average person needs in order to commit a crime. Out of 100 people, 10% would be honest no matter the circumstance, while 10% would be dishonest in any situation. But the more troubling percentage is the remaining 80% who would steal whenever the opportunity presents itself. So 90% of humanity are out to rob the world at any one time.

The crux of the matter is that the ethics of our society has to dropped to such a low level that only 10 people in 100 would do the ethically right thing. Unfortunately, this is attributed to the fact that ethics are no longer taught at an early age. Conscience has to be fed through ethics education. Otherwise it deteriorates leaving a self justified criminal behind. The fact that criminals stoop to the level of justifying their crimes indicates the level of ethics inculcated in them.

Imagine that you are the manager of your store. One day, you discover that your bank has cashed cheques to a Mr John Smith. As far as you know, you did not write any cheques a John Smith. You call your bank and investigate further only to discover that John Smith is none other than your trusted cashier Ms. Emily.

You, being old school and brought up where your father's mere stare was enough to confess all and beg forgiveness from god himself, call her into your office and confront her with the evidence in order that she may show signs of repentance so that you can testify should too harsh a sentence be given out.

You: How could you do this to me? I trusted you completely.
Ms Emily (shrugs shoulders): I found the cheques on your desk and helped myself.
You: WHAT?!?!?!
Emily: Yeah. They were sitting there....and I took em.
You: WHAT?!?!?! You took em????
Emily: Yeah. Actually I deserved them.
You: WHAT?!?!?!??!
Emily: Can you please stop shouting "what" everytime I say something. Anyway, as I was saying; I deserved them. You want to know why? Because I don't have enough money for my weed. So in order to satisfy my lifestyle, I needed more money. So I deserve it.
You: WHAT?!?!?!?!?!
Emily: Also, my boyfriend lost his job by stealing from his boss and he really needed some dough to get the new bike he always wanted. And I really couldn't say no to my boyfriend now could I?
You: WHAT?!?!?!?!?
Emily: Plus he's soooo cute. You can understand that can't you?
You: WHAT?!?!?!?!
Emily: Anyway I needed the extra cash for this tattoo right here. Isn't it a beauty? I got it yesterday. It only cost $500. You should get one too. I can....

(Police walk in and take her away....)

Emily: Hey Mr Policeman, you think this tattoo is cute don't you? Tell him will you....

You feel faint and grab the nearest chair for support; faith in humanity dashed to a million pieces while you wonder "Will there ever be trust again?".

Relief, Euphoria and Tortured Souls!

Hi folks,

It's been a while eh? But the break really paid off. I translated my blogging time into studying time...and my final results yesterday proved that it was the right move. I have finally graduated after 4 yrs of blood, toil, tears and sweat: to put it in the words of Winston Churchill.

As a bonus, my results were the best I've ever achieved in my 4 yrs. So in addition to feelings of relief, feelings of euphoria are also floating around in my dorm room.

Unfortunately, my juniors can't stand my company anymore, as I take every opportunity to remind them of the agony they are enduring while I bask in the glory of freedom. It really is shameless the way I shred their souls with my relentless taunting. It's like a disease, and I can't help it....teeheehee! It's not my fault actually. It's like they want me to do it. A typical conversation goes thus...

I'm walking down the street and a junior hails me....(first mistake)
Junior: Hey man, congratulations! I heard that you graduated...good work!
Me: Thanks man.
And then comes the unfortunate question that ensures their undoing...
Idiot Junior: So what plans now? (too late....)
Evil Me: Oh...I don't know. I think I'm going to have some fun! Because I can finally sleep peacefully at night without having to worry about assignments or exams or projects or anything! I tell you man....this freedom feels SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD! I mean, I wake up at 4pm and I feel no guilt. I stay up all night...and watch sooooo many movies....that I can't even remember how many I've watched.....I watched all the episodes of "Friends" in 2 nights man. By the way, have you seen the movie "Serenity"?
Idiot Junior: ....err no...I have an...
Evil Me: Never mind....it's the best film ever...You really should watch it as soon as possible. Have you watched Spiderman 3?
Idiot Junior: err...assignment...due...
Evil Me: I've watched it already....and I'm going to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3 tonight...and some others as well while I'm there.
Idiot Junior: ....3 projects....
Evil Me: And I'm also headed to Malaysia next week....do some mountain climbing, hiking etc....It's gonna be soooo much FUN!
Idiot Junior: ...mid-term....
Evil Me: And after that maybe I'll do a tour of Thailand...and Philippines...
Idiot Junior: god kill
Evil Me: and Indonesia....
Idiot Junior: me
Evil Me: and Hong Kong....
Idiot Junior: NOW!
Evil Me: and....

And +1 to my tortured soul list.
Damn it feels good to be free!

Malinga BLITZKREIG!

Malinga - Watch the best video clips here

Lasith Malinga takes 4 wickets in 4 balls for the first time in ODI history. Brilliant stuff!

PS: Watch the crowd go berserk when he takes his 4th....


Youtube has gone nuts....they removed the previous video....They better seriously rethink their priorities if they want ppl to keep using their site.

Oldies....Gooood!!

I like the oldies....I don't care if they're old. People think it unusual that I don't like the newer songs coming out. But strictly speaking, modern songs simply don't have the rhythm of the songs made years ago. Heavy metal for example, involves, in my perception, screaming at the top of the lungs. Hard rock, metal et al have extricated similar views from me.

Heavy metal fans, thinks my taste of music scary even. Although I am baffled as to why it is scary to like songs that actually rhyme. On the contrary, I am inclined to think that people who like and even appreciate music that exalts violence are scarier than the oldie listeners for obvious reasons.

The themes of heavy metal and hard rock are usually encompassed around violence, blood, gore and sex. To shy away from music so obviously morally depraving, is but the natural instinct of man. To embrace such music appeals to the baser instincts that separate man from caveman. And I would have thought that civilization has developed significantly since the dark ages to inculcate the civilized instincts deeper into the hearts of men. Not so. I find that people of the modern, tend to favour such music while retaining their modern civility in the world. Which is unusual, since music transforms the person in favour of the themes in the song. Unfortunately, embracing the themes is not an option in the modern world. Therefore, how long can a person hold out against the transformation before going crazy? Which is why I think that heavy metal etc... are scarier than listening to the rhythmic songs of the past era the transformations which can be embraced easily without committing serious crime.

Please regard the following illustration for clarity...

Heavy Metal


Oldie

And there you have it folks, the contrasting repercussions of heavy metal and oldies. So, save a life....listen to oldies!

Gspace! 2GB of cyberspace for free

Gspace is a neat extension for firefox users that enables them to use their Gmail account as external storage. Previously, people (students specifically) have used Gmail as a means of backing up data, transfering data and essentially using Gmail as external storage to be accessed at any time with a computer and an internet connection. Occasional random emails are despatched every month or so in order to keep the account active. But other than that, the account is literally "external storage".

One of the ways to use Gmail as external storage is to attach a the file to a new email and save the email as a draft. But the hassle of attaching each file to a draft seems to have caught up with Rahul Jonna who designed the concept of Gspace. I'd just like to digress a little to mention that Gspace is not affilited or endorsed by Google, and Rahul has absolved responsibility of it use. (So use it at your own risk)

Gspace has done away with the concept of attachments and utilizes the web browser as an ftp transfer tool; allowing files to be transfered with the minimum of hassle.



Some extra features include a picture viewer and MP3 player within the same window.


The speed of transfer is not that great. But one major advantage is that files greater than 10MB can be transfered due to some neat programming that breaks the file down before upload. Therefore, even huge files (within 2GB) can be transfered without being restricted by the 10MB email limit.

So far, even if it does not include the MP3 player or picture viewer, the pros of the extension become too overwhelming to ignore at least a peak at the extension website below.

Extension website at https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1593/

The Adventures of the Black Stallion

An old TV programme with an excellant theme song.

Kumar Sangakkara Rhetoric - Brilliant!!

An inspirational video from Youtube

The trouble with blogs!

Rarely do people realize the work and effort put into blogs by bloggers. What may start as a completely serious blog with a definite focus on a subject, so easily degenerates to rants oozing out of the writer's head. The 2 major problems in blogs nowerdays, is the inability to remain focused on the subject of the blog; and the stamina to maintain the blog by posting regularly enough to incite loyal visitors to the site.

As is evident from my postings, it is lucid that I myself lack sufficient stamina to maintain my blog. Reduced to writing fillers (this is a filler!) just so that I can post a little something on my blog to feel good enough for the next month or so. On the other hand, if I fail any of my courses and end up doing an extra semester just because I spent some of that valuable time updating my blog instead of inhaling "Material Characterization via Finite Element Indentation Simulation" (a subject slightly more enjoyable than lying down in a tub full of scissors); I know that the blog I maintain would be ditched in a heartbeat. Which is one of the reasons for the lengthy interludes between posts.

I of course can excuse myself when I rant, since my posts from the very beginning were "ranty" in nature as I chose to not focus on any specific topic for the blog. Therefore I am excused and all readers can bask in the informative drivel pouring forthwith.

And with that, I leave you to enjoy another day of absolute filler and look forward to entertaining you in the future; if I find time to squeeze in a post between the scissors and MCVFEIS.

SAAB Drivers Perform

Chek out this amazing piece of driving by the SAAB test drivers.

Franklin W Dixon does not exist!

I've just found out that the author of my favourite childhood mysteries, the Hardy Boys is just a figment of someone's imagination. You could have knocked me down with a feather when I found this out. I was that shocked.

Apparently, Franklin W Dixon was the Pen name used by Edward Stratemeyer to write the Hardy Boys series. As he was writing the series, he realized that he could not keep up with all the plots that he wanted to write. So, he assembled a few authors and gave them the job of writing the Hardy Boys mysteries, while he provided the basic outline and plot to which the mystery should be formed. Under the name of Stratemeyer Syndicate, these writers wrote the entire Hardy Boys series making it one of the most successful mystery series ever written.

It may be of interest to note that the Nancy Drew series was also a spinoff of the Stratemeyer Syndicate. Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer, the daughters of Edward Stratemeyer started off the Nancy Drew series, which has also been of immense success. The Hardy Boys casefiles has also been another successful spinoff with an emphasis on maturity in the myteries. The casefiles series often involved the Hardy's using guns and people actually dying, whereas, the regular series was not as violent as it was targeted at the younger generation.

As amazing as the fact that a great author such as Franklin W Dixon never existed was, the fact that the series was written by different writers explains a lot in terms of disparities in writing styles within the series. I remember thinking when I was in the peak of my Hardy Boys craze, "How could Franklin W Dixon write over a hundred books and not get tired at all?".

While it may be impossible (and highly improbable) that someone could write so many books without exhaustion, as proven by the Franklin W Dixon example, the impossible takes exception to one of the greatest and most widely written children authors of all time, Enid Blyton.

For more details on the history of the Hardy Boys, click here
And for a biography of Enid Blyton, click here

The Evolution of Dance

I came across this clip on the internet, which I feel would be a crime to all music lovers if I did not share this amazingly coordinated and absolutely remarkable piece of work.

Times we forgot

It's only human to forget things. All of us have at one time or another forgotten stuff that makes us angry with ourselves when we remember too late. As all married women will concede, the most irritating trait of their husbands is that however many times an item is emphasized to be bought at the supermarket, the husbands always forget. As in a recent advertisement on TV, with some modifications by myself,

Wife: We need milk for the kids, butter for next week, and Taco Sauce for today's steak dinner.
Husband (on phone closing a 1.5 million dollar deal, and wearing jacket at same time): Ok. Got it. Milk, Butter, Steak.
Wife: NO! IT'S TACO SAUCE!
Husband (phone call ended): Oh! ok...sorry dear, wasn't listening.
Wife: REMEMBER to bring the Taco Sauce.
Husband: Don't worry. I got it....Taco Sauce.

Husband (on the way to store): Taco Sauce, Taco Sauce, Taco Sauce...

The husband then buys everything, plus some extra stuff that the family will need the following week. The cashier asks him whether he needs anything else. He answers in the negative. He reaches home, and his wife pulls out the provisions, until she reaches the bottom of the bag.

Wife: Where is the Taco Sauce?
(Cold chill envelopes room)

The fact is, that however reluctant we are to admit it, all of us have been in the exact same scenario at least once in our lives. I would like to digress a little at this point to emphasize that women have also been culprits of the infamous memory lapse (Believe it or not!). But unfortunately, men are somehow brainwashed later by the Secret Agency for Women (SAW) who erase the incriminating memory from their minds.

It is also a fact that the vindicating memories are remembered lucidly by wives in times of arguments with their spouses, and used as effectively in driving home advantages resulting in 90% of such arguments swinging in favour of the sisterhood. It seems that these memories seem immune to all ideas "forgot".

Which is why, I, on behalf of the silently suffering (and cursing) masculine populace, now appeal to all of the female species that it is only human to forget; and if possible to please forget the times we (the men) forgot!

Some Good Books

Here is a compilation of some books that are, if anything, interesting reading. Some of them are ridiculously easy/entertaining reading while others are...well, also mostly entertaining reading.

Novels
The Five Find-Outers and Dog series- Enid Blyton*
The Hardy Boys series - Franklyn W Dixon*
Danny, the Champion of the World - Roald Dahl(and others by the same author including his autobiography)
Three Terms at Uplands - Angela Brazil (and others by the same author)
The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R Tolkien
The Hobbit - J.R.R Tolkien (most of his other books are boring)
The Biggles series - Captain W.E Johns
Rumpole of the Bailey - John Mortimer (and others by the same author)
Leave it to Psmith - P. G Wodehouse (and ALL others by the same author; none of his books are boring)
The Guns of Navarone - Alistair Maclean (and others by the same author)
The Labours of Hercules - Agatha Christie (and others by the same author)
The man who knew too much - G.K Chesterton (and others in the series)
The Father Brown series - G.K Chesterton
The Harry Potter Series - J. K Rowling (Although I believe that some scenes in the latter books were pretty lame)
Life of Pi - Yann Martel

Others
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
Eats Shoots and Leaves - Lynne Truss
Emily Post's Etiquette - Peggy Post
Business @** the Speed of Thought - Bill Gates
Be My Guest - Conrad Hilton
Parkinson's Law - C. Northcote Parkinson
Vignettes of the Ceylon Civil Service - M Chandrasoma***
Assignment Colombo - J.N Dixit****


I'm apologize if "The Da Vinci Code" is not in any of the lists; but it wasn't a great book anyway. If anything, I would say that it was OK. I don't understand what all the fuss is about. It was, in my opinion, good fiction that entwined facts about Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings to a notion concocted out of thin air. Kudos to Dan Brown. Frankly, I think that the publicists are the real heros here.

* Just to clarify, I don't still read Enid Blyton. Thought I'd just include it in the list because it was entertaining reading... about 8 years ago.
** The @ symbol here is not an abbreviation for "at". That's the way it is in the book.
*** An entertaining book about the Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) Civil Service in the monarchal days before independance.
**** A very political 80's history of Sri Lanka.

An amazing toolbar

It is indeed the bane of the internet today that every website offers free toolbars so that "you" are informed immediately when the url of the forums link is changed from "/forum" to "/forums". Oh! Thats important alright. After wading through the millions of useless toolbars of the internet, I "stumbled" upon the "StumbleUpon" toolbar. And until now, I have never regretted installing this particular bar. Very few toolbars have impressed me the way this has. I now have a total of 2 toolbars on my firefox browser. Namely the "Google" toolbar and the "StumbleUpon" toolbar.

The toolbar really is pretty interesting. Its basic function is to return interesting websites catered to your requirements. The toolbar first asks you to indicate the topics that you are interested in, and saves the information. After that, all you have to do is click the stumble button to literally stumble upon websites related to the topics that you indicated. Each time the button is clicked, you are directed to different websites, that you would never have thought existed in the world wide web.

Here's the link to the website of the toolbar, and I can guarantee that StumbleUpon will be one toolbar that you won't uninstall in a hurry.

StumbleUpon

Daniel Radcliffe looks Retarded!

Oh gosh! I've been trying to put my finger on what really was wrong with "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". And I finally figured it out. The reason was because there were SO many mistakes in the movie, that you just can't single out one mistake and hate the movie thereafter. The fact that the movie had so many mistakes, was also probably the reason why most Harry Potter fans just ignored them and embraced the movie as marvellously different from the previous 3 sequels. Now, I'm not a movie critic, and I generally like movies that are well done and have interesting story lines. By well done, I mean that I don't need the movie to be an 8.0. I find that I even like movies rated 6.0 or even 5.0. Which means that I have a high tolerance for mistakes in movies. But, when I watched Harry Potter on big screen, it gave me the same feeling as though I was being repeatedly kicked in the.....

Anyway, I was really bemused as to how such a movie could get a 7.7/10 on IMBD. So, I decided to give it another chance, and watch it again (on my computer) just in case I missed some of the good parts during my wincing. And this time, I was able to actually pinpoint the mistakes in the movie. And the worst part was that I was noticing these mistakes involuntarily, which really goes to show how excruciating the movie really was.

I take the liberty to document my findings so that should any fan of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" stumble upon this blog, he/she would be enlightened and shower kudos at that movie no more.

1. Radcliffe looks RETARDED. He looks SO retarded, that he in no way fits the description of hero in the movie. Oh, he's Harry Potter alright. By that I mean that he's the perfect actor for the part and he played it beautifully in the first 3 movies. But, in this movie, he just looks retarded throughout the whole movie. Take a look at the screenshot below if you need proof.
2. Dumbledore, is a child molestor. At least thats the impression I got from the movie. I don't know if teachers are allowed to throttle students in some parts of the world. But Dumbledore, certainly was within an inch (literally) of doing the very same. Again screenshots below to prove it.























3. Discontinuities, Ridiculous entrances and exits of characters and Actors acting totally out of character - I can't re-iterate how many times these blunders have occured in the movie. The discontinuities and entrances and exits were so blatant, that even an amature director could have done better.

As an example, lets take the scene after the quiddich world cup.
The fire at the quiddich game had burnt out, and only the smouldering remains of the tents are remaining. And Harry Potter is still unconscious (Lets ignore for now the fact that he lies in the very centre of the ruins with not a single mark on him. While everything else around him is razed to the ground.) and wakes up only when the bad guy does his dark mark thing. The best part about the whole muck up is the fact that the whole gang are suddenly looking for Harry only at that specific moment, and all the "convenient" characters appear from nowhere to save Harry. Oh gosh, is the director so naive as to believe that the audience would buy that? It was like a Hindi movie, only worse, because in Hindi movies, the sudden appearances of characters usually occur in dance scenes, (where dancers suddenly jump out of nowhere and start dancing in the middle of the street) and are intentionally introduced into the movie.

There are scores of blunders in the movie that would take me all day to document. If anything, I can just bullet some of the scenes so that you can go back and watch them yourselves.
1. Hermione's character
Her's was a very angry and crying character in this movie...totally weird
Out of place in her very first scene. (waking Harry up and shouting at the top of her voice)
Out of place in the scene where she hugs Harry before he selects his dragon.
Out of place in mad-eye moody's class.
Out of place when Harry comes out of the lake.
2. Ron's character
Probably one of the best acted in the whole movie, but still with flaws.
Out of place when about to apologize to potter in the common room.
3. Dumbledore
He was just all wrong. What with the shouting, impatience, aggression and so many other qualities not associated with the dumbledore as portrayed by J.K Rowling.
4. Professor Snape
Played Snape extremely well, except for one scene where he slams the door on Harry after accusing him of stealing from his cupboard.
5. Professor McGonagal
The best played character of all. A perfect performance with no flaws whatsoever.
6. Voldemort
He started off well. But then became all messed up. He was supposed to be stately and aggressive. But it was expected for him to be aggressive in a slow evil way. Rather than impatient duelling and running about. But I would give his character a break because its his first appearance.
7. Harry Potter
His character was wrong so many times in so many scenes, that I just give up.
8. Miscellaneous
There was a ROCK BAND at the ball...Oh my god! What were the directors thinking???? ...Seriously, words fail me.
Scenes were switched suddenly. This occured so many times, that it was practically impossible to get any idea of the layout of any landscape/area by the end of the movie.

In fact, due to the characters of Harry, Dumbledore and Hermione being so messed up, the whole movie becomes a charade (leaving out the rock band, scene switching etc...). I would suggest watching this movie with the mindset you would have as you watch any other movie. The faults of the movie will become only too obvious. I got so irritated with this movie that I actually wasted time to write about it in my blog. It doesn't deserve this....I have to go.