Sunday night! Sunday night! Sunday night!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Geek Is...
Blizzard's senior vice president of creative development, Chris Metzen, delivers a rousing dissertation to a packed audience at BlizzCon about what it means to be a geek.
Seriously, I want to play D&D again. No, really, I'm being serious. Shut up, I'm not kidding! Back in the day I was one heck of a Dungeon Master. Boom! Best days of my life B.B. (Before Boobies)
Seriously, I want to play D&D again. No, really, I'm being serious. Shut up, I'm not kidding! Back in the day I was one heck of a Dungeon Master. Boom! Best days of my life B.B. (Before Boobies)
Why the Jon Stewart Rally is my generation's Woodstock
By Alexandra Petri (Washington Post)
We don't go to rallies.
Drag races? Men in heels.
Once we were in a protest, but only because we had to walk through it to get to a Lady Gaga concert.
Sign petitions? Please. March for a cause? Only if by "march" you mean "walk in a determined fashion" and by "cause" you mean "to buy that new frozen yogurt that is so popular these days."
Call us Generation I. I for irony, iPhones, and the Internet. I for instant gratification. I for idiosyncratic, inventive, impertinent. We're all these things.
Recently, Charles Murray accused us of being a "New Elite." This might be overstating our case a bit. What binds us is not a common experience or similar eugenetic stock, as he claims. It's our mindset -- a staunch and unstinting refusal to take anything seriously.
It's not that we don't believe some things are serious. We'll make It Gets Better videos or perform comedy for jazz relief, or whatever the occasion is. But sum up our lives in a phrase? The Importance Of Never Being Too Earnest.
We know what happens to people who take themselves seriously. They become bent and broken with care and develop arterial plaques. Sometimes they're elected to political office. "In America, any boy may become president," Adlai Stevenson once noted. "And I suppose it's just one of the risks he takes." We don't like the sound of that.
Forget the 1950s, which we picture as an entire era of people in conservative sweater-sets earnestly pushing towards the front of the class. These days, the whole class wants to sit in the back row and lob spitballs. Our icons are the class clowns, not the overachievers in near the blackboard. Raise our hands? Make a statement? Please. What is this, a Norman Rockwell painting?
After someone discovered the mystical secret of doing things ironically, we felt a great weight lift from our shoulders. Now, we dwell in thickets of inverted commas. Commit to fashions, opinions, favorite beverages? Why bother, when you can take someone to prom ironically as a commentary on beauty, or move to Tibet and spend three years living ironically in a monastery?
Want us to come to a rally? Better make it a "rally." Want us to testify before Congress? Can we do it in character?
Continue reading this post »
By Alexandra Petri | October 26, 2010
We don't go to rallies.
Drag races? Men in heels.
Once we were in a protest, but only because we had to walk through it to get to a Lady Gaga concert.
Sign petitions? Please. March for a cause? Only if by "march" you mean "walk in a determined fashion" and by "cause" you mean "to buy that new frozen yogurt that is so popular these days."
Call us Generation I. I for irony, iPhones, and the Internet. I for instant gratification. I for idiosyncratic, inventive, impertinent. We're all these things.
Recently, Charles Murray accused us of being a "New Elite." This might be overstating our case a bit. What binds us is not a common experience or similar eugenetic stock, as he claims. It's our mindset -- a staunch and unstinting refusal to take anything seriously.
It's not that we don't believe some things are serious. We'll make It Gets Better videos or perform comedy for jazz relief, or whatever the occasion is. But sum up our lives in a phrase? The Importance Of Never Being Too Earnest.
We know what happens to people who take themselves seriously. They become bent and broken with care and develop arterial plaques. Sometimes they're elected to political office. "In America, any boy may become president," Adlai Stevenson once noted. "And I suppose it's just one of the risks he takes." We don't like the sound of that.
Forget the 1950s, which we picture as an entire era of people in conservative sweater-sets earnestly pushing towards the front of the class. These days, the whole class wants to sit in the back row and lob spitballs. Our icons are the class clowns, not the overachievers in near the blackboard. Raise our hands? Make a statement? Please. What is this, a Norman Rockwell painting?
After someone discovered the mystical secret of doing things ironically, we felt a great weight lift from our shoulders. Now, we dwell in thickets of inverted commas. Commit to fashions, opinions, favorite beverages? Why bother, when you can take someone to prom ironically as a commentary on beauty, or move to Tibet and spend three years living ironically in a monastery?
Want us to come to a rally? Better make it a "rally." Want us to testify before Congress? Can we do it in character?
Continue reading this post »
By Alexandra Petri | October 26, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
This ain't the beach.
Make up your mind, Media:
Are the Cowboys a good team or not? Because their 1-5 records kinda says, "We blow." But "pundits" (aka TV execs worried 'America's Team' won't make it to the playoffs) keep telling me that ON PAPER they're the greatest. Shoulda woulda coulda.
Also, Jon Stewart. Is he a comedian or a legitimate source of news? Because the Washington Post (among others) are worried that his upcoming Rally to Restore Sanity here in DC is going to be detrimental for Democrats, liberals, etc. I guess it depends on the weather. Hey, America, if you don't give us a spokesperson for the Moderates we will appoint one. His name is Jon Stewart. You snooze you lose.
One more thing... Why are we bombing villages in Afghanistan? According to the military (as reported yesterday), our presence there ain't doing jack shit. The Taliban is getting stronger and innocent people are getting killed on both sides! War is not the answer. Or if it is then level the region and be done with it.
Are the Cowboys a good team or not? Because their 1-5 records kinda says, "We blow." But "pundits" (aka TV execs worried 'America's Team' won't make it to the playoffs) keep telling me that ON PAPER they're the greatest. Shoulda woulda coulda.
Also, Jon Stewart. Is he a comedian or a legitimate source of news? Because the Washington Post (among others) are worried that his upcoming Rally to Restore Sanity here in DC is going to be detrimental for Democrats, liberals, etc. I guess it depends on the weather. Hey, America, if you don't give us a spokesperson for the Moderates we will appoint one. His name is Jon Stewart. You snooze you lose.
One more thing... Why are we bombing villages in Afghanistan? According to the military (as reported yesterday), our presence there ain't doing jack shit. The Taliban is getting stronger and innocent people are getting killed on both sides! War is not the answer. Or if it is then level the region and be done with it.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Peter Jackson Speaks
As you know (I'll assume you know even though I know you don't) The Hobbit is having some trouble getting started. A labor dispute has made things quite complicated in New Zealand and Peter Jackson is pissed.
Giant Rangers
People who don't watch baseball: First, I pity you and your lack of taste. Second, you missed some great baseball recently.
The Texas Rangers beat the New York Yankees (of all teams) to make it to the World Series for the first time ever. (Ever!) I can only imagine how the people of Arlington, Texas are feeling right now. And then the San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies in one of the most intense bottom-of-the-ninth innings I ever watched. And now the World Series which begins on Wednesday night will be some of the best baseball that no one will watch. No superstar Yankees. No down on their luck, sappy Red Sox. No Brett Favre. Just two teams that would sacrifice a testicle to win.
I'm pulling for the Rangers because I was thoroughly impressed that the team used ginger ale instead of champagne during their celebration because one of their own is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic. That's respect and those guys get my vote.
The Texas Rangers beat the New York Yankees (of all teams) to make it to the World Series for the first time ever. (Ever!) I can only imagine how the people of Arlington, Texas are feeling right now. And then the San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies in one of the most intense bottom-of-the-ninth innings I ever watched. And now the World Series which begins on Wednesday night will be some of the best baseball that no one will watch. No superstar Yankees. No down on their luck, sappy Red Sox. No Brett Favre. Just two teams that would sacrifice a testicle to win.
I'm pulling for the Rangers because I was thoroughly impressed that the team used ginger ale instead of champagne during their celebration because one of their own is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic. That's respect and those guys get my vote.
The Rule
Logic is a gift. Like a shiny new Craftsman hammer. But like that hammer, logic is merely a tool. If it's a house you're trying to build you're going to need more tools.
When it comes to God and Christ and the Bible I am merely a student. A learner. I understand faith and feel myself moving closer to it every day, but it's not like a light switch for me. I wasn't able to just turn it on. Sure I went to Sunday School, etc., but that kind of faith is like choosing between milk chocolate and devil's food cake. As an adult beginner there's a new level of intellectuality that factors into my decision making process.
Recently, there's one aspect of Christianity that has been a challenge for me: Loving people. I don't mean Mom and Dad and Lynette and your Aunt Tilly. I mean PEOPLE. How do I truly love people as I love myself?
I live in a heavily populated region of the country. I ride public transportation. I stand in line at grocery stores. How in the world am I expected to love these annoying people?!
Is empathy the same as love? Probably not. I can empathize, but that's not enough. I'm not asking a rhetorical question here... How do I love the people that annoy me? How do I love people that do me wrong? How do I love people that scare me? How do I love the person riding my ass in the car behind me?
When it comes to God and Christ and the Bible I am merely a student. A learner. I understand faith and feel myself moving closer to it every day, but it's not like a light switch for me. I wasn't able to just turn it on. Sure I went to Sunday School, etc., but that kind of faith is like choosing between milk chocolate and devil's food cake. As an adult beginner there's a new level of intellectuality that factors into my decision making process.
Recently, there's one aspect of Christianity that has been a challenge for me: Loving people. I don't mean Mom and Dad and Lynette and your Aunt Tilly. I mean PEOPLE. How do I truly love people as I love myself?
I live in a heavily populated region of the country. I ride public transportation. I stand in line at grocery stores. How in the world am I expected to love these annoying people?!
Is empathy the same as love? Probably not. I can empathize, but that's not enough. I'm not asking a rhetorical question here... How do I love the people that annoy me? How do I love people that do me wrong? How do I love people that scare me? How do I love the person riding my ass in the car behind me?
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Tree of Life, by Mark Ryden
This is his latest. I think I like it because it has a bear in it. And bees.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Hippo
I loathe when people tell me about dreams they had. So here's mine from last night!
I was arrested at the childhood home of Loretta Lynn for stealing a piece of the wall that had a doodle on it.
Interpret that, you weirdies!
I was arrested at the childhood home of Loretta Lynn for stealing a piece of the wall that had a doodle on it.
Interpret that, you weirdies!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
EEEiieeeieieeeeeeeiieeeeee!!!!!!!!1111
The Hero is Still Only a Sandwich
Why are we so in love with the bad guy?
Gratefully, my dad took me to see Star Wars in 1977 and I left the movie theater with a desire to be Darth Vader. I loved Darth Vader. Of my various Star Wars action figures, Darth Vader was my favorite. I even had a Darth Vader belt buckle (which I still own today). Looking back I can say with confidence that Darth Vader was a real dick. But I still loved him. Why?
Tony Soprano was a murderer, an adulterer, a terrible father, and a real dick. But I loved him. Why?
The Joker (as recently portrayed by the late Heath Ledger) was a psychotic mad man. But I dare you to go to a Halloween party this year and not run into at least five of them.
And most recently, Don Draper. Initially, I was captivated by the cool stylings of a sauve, swingin' 60's hipster like Draper. But lately I'm feeling a Don Draper hangover. Does television have a bigger douchebag?
Don't get me wrong, I love the show. But cheese and crackers Don Draper is such a dick. At this point I can't figure out if the show is trying to get me to feel sorry for him or cheer on his downward spiral. Either way the character leaves a wake of hurt where ever he goes and we can't seem to get enough. Why is that?
Are we at the zoo peering in on the strange man and his strange family? Or are we in our bathrooms looking in the mirror? Too many of us have felt the pain left behind by men like Don Draper. In some form or another.
Or maybe it's a good sign, our morbid curiosity. Maybe it means we're so fascinated by the dark, mean, evil spirits of these villains because it's so foreign and most of us are good, faithful people. Also, shows about an upstanding, faithful father is dullsville, man.
Gratefully, my dad took me to see Star Wars in 1977 and I left the movie theater with a desire to be Darth Vader. I loved Darth Vader. Of my various Star Wars action figures, Darth Vader was my favorite. I even had a Darth Vader belt buckle (which I still own today). Looking back I can say with confidence that Darth Vader was a real dick. But I still loved him. Why?
Tony Soprano was a murderer, an adulterer, a terrible father, and a real dick. But I loved him. Why?
The Joker (as recently portrayed by the late Heath Ledger) was a psychotic mad man. But I dare you to go to a Halloween party this year and not run into at least five of them.
And most recently, Don Draper. Initially, I was captivated by the cool stylings of a sauve, swingin' 60's hipster like Draper. But lately I'm feeling a Don Draper hangover. Does television have a bigger douchebag?
Don't get me wrong, I love the show. But cheese and crackers Don Draper is such a dick. At this point I can't figure out if the show is trying to get me to feel sorry for him or cheer on his downward spiral. Either way the character leaves a wake of hurt where ever he goes and we can't seem to get enough. Why is that?
Are we at the zoo peering in on the strange man and his strange family? Or are we in our bathrooms looking in the mirror? Too many of us have felt the pain left behind by men like Don Draper. In some form or another.
Or maybe it's a good sign, our morbid curiosity. Maybe it means we're so fascinated by the dark, mean, evil spirits of these villains because it's so foreign and most of us are good, faithful people. Also, shows about an upstanding, faithful father is dullsville, man.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Mashed Mad Men
Nature Boy/A Beautiful Mine mash up. A Beautiful Mine (by RJD2) was used in the Mad Men theme. Also, this video was shot in one take. Also, it's awesome.
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