Homer's 'Iliad' Now in 'Messenger Speak'

[matcom]

:eyes:

<snip>

LONDON (Reuters) - Homer's ancient Greek poem "The Iliad," the basis for Hollywood blockbuster "Troy," has been compressed for a new generation too lazy to see the film let alone read the 24-book epic that runs to over 15,000 lines.

The first five books of the centuries-old tale, set in the final year of the Trojan War -- which began when Trojan Paris snatched Helen (the face that launched a thousand ships) from Greece -- are now available in the language people use when sending instant messages, Microsoft said on Monday.

Book Two is reduced to just 24 words of 'messenger speak', losing some of the lyricism of the original. "Agamemnon hd a dream: Troy not defended. Ordered attack! But Trojans knew they were coming n were prepared. Achilles sat sulking in his tent."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=573&e=4&u=/nm/20040524/od_nm/ouken_odd_iliad_dc

[punpirate]

1. Hmmm....

I've wondered when books were going to be rewritten so Bush could say he'd read them.... Microsoft takes Cliff's Notes to a reductively new low....

[chenGOD]

2. That reminds me of this Romeo and Juliet

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/romeoandjuliet.html

Takes a little while to get going, but just watch...