Sorry for my language but I have just had enough with these religion stuff. I was watching the news a few minutes ago, and this report about the Da Vinci Code movie came up, and it really pissed me off.

I know a lot of you here are religious Catholic or Christian, but I am really fed up with it. I respect what Catholics and Christians believe in, as much as the same case that I believe in fate. So be warned. Don't read this if you would be offended easily by criticisms on religion.


I don't understand why these religious groups' demand could not be treated as THREAT!!!

That news was that West Minster Abbey refused to have anything to do with the movie unless they changed the plot, and then there were other American religious groups 'asking' the producers not to make this movie unless they change the plot!

And do you know what the reason is? Because the movie had portrayed the Roman Catholic Church as the bad guy. Sorry, I know it's upsetting being portrayed as the bad guy (I wonder if they know this is the way the Muslims were made to feel like by the West), but it's fictional, AND it is not like the Church hasn't done anything bad before, especially with the contradicting interpretation of the Bible going on (e.g. the latest fiasco on why women can not be Bishops, and the thing is, there isn't any written rule that women cannot be bishop. So for a feminist, Catholicism is bad for being sexist). I think the Church deserve the kind of bad publicity they are recieving because it was the results of problems they did not solve in the past for God knows how long!.

The way they were treating these novels e.g. Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter for being such a blasphemy only makes them more famous! To me, a healthy dose of criticism or skepticism should be needed to everything I read, but total condemnation and oppositions would only make the matter worse. Sometimes when looking at the way the Church was like towards any opposition, no wonder China is so firm about religion in its region. And I can't say I don't blame them in some ways.

Anyway, all these crap reasons that the religion is throwing at the Da Vinci movie really pissed me off because the making of the movie is not murdering anyone or stealing from anyone, and if the novel had not become as 'infamous' as it is now by those religious over-reactions, then maybe, the movie won't be made and everyone's happy. Secondly, it's a fiction based on facts. Get a grip. If someone believe something, banning books and making their life a nuisance or living hell won't stop them. I am so glad I am not religion-crazed.

Sorry for any possible offense I had done above, but I am really fed up by these.

On a better note, I finally sorted out the Excel graphs. Thanks for your offer, gryferin. ^_^

As for the meeting with my tutor... It was every bit as *interesting* as I expected.

I went in to see Val told her what happened, and showed her the letter. She went crazy, and said "43?! 43 should get you a diploma! Why are they asking for 50?! What the heck were they doing! If I were you, I am bloody going to appeal!"

I told her I wasn't sure especially that I will have to come up with another bloody letter before 22nd August, bearing in mind that I am still doing my dissertation at the moment. She suggested I could just send them a letter informing that I would like to appeal, but I am doing my finals at the moment, I will send in my appeal letter as soon as I finished my finals. She also suggested that I should talk to Phil in the Student Union, which she will make an appointment for me to see him asap about my options.

And then... Shaun came in. I wasn't expecting him to be in yesterday, but he did anyway. He was surprised to see me there, and thought it was just coming in to see Val about my London trip. Anyway, Val told me to tell Shaun what happened.

Val: Tell him about the letter then. (She was preparing to laugh her head off since we both know what Shaun's reaction could be --- hilarious.)
Shaun: What letter?
Me: York sent a letter back to Hong Kong concerning my marks, and I failed with an overall mark of 43.
Shaun: (as we expected, went berseck, or exploded as you like it) WHAT?! 43! And no diploma?! Give me the FUCKING letter!

*roll my eyes* Ah well. Shaun said after calmed down a bit, said he'll call his friend who's working in York (but not in the same department I was in) and see if he could drag some dirt out on what's going on with my case. We'll see how it goes.

However, what's priceless was when he heard that I was still considering about appealing, and he broke out again saying that "you might not get your diploma by appealing, but not appealing would mean they get away with murder". *lol* And when I told him I will definitely think about it, he added "don't do it until you finish the majority of your dissertation". Val added for me that I had already finished 8000 words of the required 12000words. He actually did the "zipped" action on his lips and said "forget I said the last sentence". *ROTFL*

~ Calbee