Pity me

If it turns out I'm wrong, and there truly is a God. The fucker's gonna pay. Any intelligent being who would create something as vile as the common cold deserves no worship. I'll hunt God down myself and make the bastard taste my snot. Due punishment for being forced to hack up phlegm all day. He's gonna rue the day I die and he has to deal with me.

On a slightly related note. I don't know if it really helps my immune system or if it is simply hippy propaganda, but Naked Juice is goddamn delicious. Why has it taken this long for someone to figure out how to bottle a smoothie? Sure it's a tad pricey, but it is totally worth it. Plus they list the ingredients and measurements to make your own! Talk about unconventional marketing.

-Brandon

Brandon is a Nerd

Now that my money flow is more stable. I've been using some of my spare cash from tip sharing to keep up on some comic series. Most recently, Brian Michael Bendis has single handedly dragged my attention back to the Marvel Universe. This is something that hasn't happened since Middle School. Alias was so well done, I had to continue with Pulse, and when I learned he was also writing Ultimate Spiderman (My childhood favorite Superhero) I knew I had to pick that up too. I soon learned he'd written a little Ultimate XMen as well. From there, I've become immersed in the ultimate universe. I'm working on catching up with the Ultimates (I've read the first 13 and am already in love with it). Because the Ultimate universe is more directed towards older audiences (About time Marvel!), the author's personal politics tend to shine through to their series a bit more. Nick Fury is made into a respectable figure of sorts, and the author seems to advocate the policing of global affairs through whatever force is necessary. The contradictory nature of Professor Xaviar's pacifism through violent enforcement is focused upon heavily in XMen. Professor X's character is far less saintly then he's appeared in the past. It's a very nice touch.

Outside of Marvel, I've also discovered Powers, after my dive into Marvel's ultimate universe. This is another Brian Michael Bendis series and it makes his work in the Marvel universe look pathetic. Powers is a great story with simple cartoony artwork that I absolutely love. The series frequently uses very original and clever layouts (something I've found myself noticing more and more the past couple years). This is definitely work to aspire to.

I'm also hooked on Robert Kirkman's "Walking Dead." I love zombie horror when it's done right. The first two Romero movies are perfect. A great zombie film should focus on the psychological and social status of the survivors, not the mindless masses outside. Kirkman does this wonderfully. He uses a fairly predictable formula of terrible disaster followed by wonderful miracle which eventually leads to the next terrible disaster. It works well to keep the characters psychologically damaged enough to change, but hopeful enough to carry on. His main character is undergoing some interesting changes in ethics as he becomes more and more responsible for the group of survivors. My only complaint about Kirkman's writing is that he relies far too much and totally improbable occurrences but it is unimportant enough to not detract from the story.

Bill Willingham's "Fables" is another great series. It's the story of a bunch of characters out of European folklore who have fled their homeland and set up a small community in New York. Don't let the fairy tale characters put you off. This is not a series for kids. It's very dark and deals commonly with violence, sex, and various other taboo subject matters. The story is usually unpredictable, and even when you can see it coming, the process of getting there is entertaining enough to make it not matter. My biggest complaint is the issues are just too damn short.

Warren Ellis's "Desolation Jones" has only had three issues so far. Releases are slow and issues are short, which is very VERY frustrating because this series is so well done. Warren Ellis has a sick sense of humor that has yet to get old. Transmetropolitan was great, and "Global Frequency" makes for fun and short adventure Sci. Fi. His newest series, "Fell", is creepy, surreal, and hilarious, plus each issue is designed to stand alone. The first issue should still be on the shelves. I am quickly coming to believe that whatever this guy touches is gold.

-Brandon

Comments

I'm turning word verification on comments backoff . It's annoying and stupid. I'm sure you are smart enough to figure out what's spam and what isn't if you happen to catch it before I do.-Brandon

Musical Brandon

It has been a while since I've discussed music here, and since I am always listening to something when I'm home (and sometimes when I'm out), it seems an appropriate topic.

I've been listening to the "Best Best of Fela Kuti" quite a bit lately. I'm sort of ashamed that I haven't discovered this apparently legendary musician sooner. This stuff is great. Nice jazzy instrumentals with pretty repetitive vocals that add to the rhythm and melody.

I've also been thoroughly enjoying the "Stubbs the Zombie" soundtrack. It's a mixture of 50's and 60's bubblegum pop songs covered by an assortment of Indie and alternative bands. It's really fun, particularly if you are like me and love covers.

I'm also enjoying the new Atmosphere album. It's a huge improvement over his "7even's Travels". The backing music is great, and the lyrics are very enjoyable.

During a semi-recent Atmosphere show I attended I got to see two other MC's (opening) who I am also currently listening to heavily. Blueprint and RJD2's collaboration "8 Million Stories" as "Soul Position" is outstanding. Fun and clever lyrics and beautiful instrumentals make for a near perfect album. And POS's album "Ipecac Neat" has some more entertaining Hip Hop. A few song's lyrics fall flat, but for the most part, the CD is very entertaining.

Wolf Parade's debut album "Apologies to Queen Mary" is amazing. The vocals remind me of early Modest Mouse. This is backed by complex keyboard dominated instrumentals. I hope to hear more from these guys in the future.

Danger Doom's (Danger Mouse and MF Doom) "The Mouse and the Mask;" Adult Swim themed album is also very good. Surprisingly, the theme doesn't grow old and the dialogue between songs has yet to grow old. I'd say that Meatwad's cover of MF Doom's "MMM Food" is downright adorable.

-Brandon

Diesel Sweeties - 50 states, 50 slogans

http://www.dieselsweeties.com/archive.php?s=1310

That is all.

-Brandon

Presidents of the United States of America apparently still exist.

The minds behind "Peaches" "Lump" and my personal favorite "Kitty" have released a music video made entirely with camera phones. The video looks awesome. Pity the song is kinda mediocre. It isn't terrible, just mediocre. Actually, in retrospect, so was all their other music.

-Brandon

I know Jack Thompson was nuts, but not this nuts.

Apparently Jack Thompson ran against Janet Reno for district attorney of Wade County in 1988. During his campaign he claimed that Reno was a closer lesbian and because of this she was apparently a prime target for blackmail and thus couldn't be trusted. He also made the claim that she was suffering from some form of "Parkinsons dementia"that made her act crazy and play steel drums in her office at night with a pitchfork.
CRAZY!

The wikipedia article on Thompson has all sorts of fun tidbits as well.

As well as propagating the "video games made me do it" defense, Thompson has also attempted to predict which violent crimes will be caused by specific video games; in the Washington Sniper case, he was the first individual to suggest to the press that video games may have been the source of the sniper's skills, a conjecture vindicated by the discovery of a ubiquitous PlayStation in the van used as a "mobile hideout" by the two men responsible. Dateline NBC reported that Malvo "trained" extensively on the Xbox game Halo. Because of this report, Thompson believes that "Microsoft should be sued and held liable for money damages by the victims of the Beltway Snipers." [6] It is important to note, however, that John Allen Muhammad was a former soldier with significant rifle training, as predicted by the police, and that Lee Boyd Malvo's shooting skills could have easily been the result of instruction by Muhammad.

I remember being outraged that anyone honestly believed you could learn to shoot from a FPS game at the time. I was not aware of who had started the rumors.

In one of a series of "video game violence" interviews by CBS, he compared Doug Lowenstein of the Entertainment Software Association to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels, although the response has since been edited [12]. Months thereafter, Thompson instead compared Lowenstein to Adolf Hitler, in a wordy personal attack nominally veiled as an open letter [13]. In the June 2005 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Thompson was interviewed and again discussed Lowenstein, this time implying he was worse than Saddam Hussein.

On July 22, 2005, after the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas case was settled, Thompson sought after The Sims 2, citing, oxymoronically, that "This is no different than what is in San Andreas, although worse.", due to the availability of a mod that removes the censorship fields from all characters when they are nude, which he says allows "pedophiles" to see computer-rendered nude children [15]. In another instance, he claimed "Sims 2, the latest version of the Sims video game franchise...contains, according to video game news sites, full frontal nudity, including nipples, penises, labia, and pubic hair." He added an accusation that Electronic Arts (EA) and Maxis were cooperating with the mod community to "peddle vile smut to minors."

In reality, even with the "blur" removed, The Sims 2 contains no such details; the characters have no visible reproductive organs or pubic hair whatsoever, similar to children's dolls, and female models lack both nipples and areolae. Thompson further accused EA and Will Wright of supporting adult custom content specifically. In reality, Will Wright has historically supported all user-created game content universally, on the principle of endorsing personal creativity, innovation, and personalization. Although there are user-created content packages available on the Internet many would consider adult material, they are neither created nor specifically endorsed by Maxis or EA and thus are not a factor in the ESRB's rating of the software.

Although I was aware of this. What I wasn't aware of was that his entire attack against Sims began with a GTA modder deliberatly misinforming him to see if he would act on the information without doing his own research. Apparently he did. He later did an interview with Chatterbox radio (a show I remember listening to) in which he retracts some of his statements but still claims that the Sims is somehow worse then GTA. He goes on to say that by supporting a mod community, gamemakers lose their rights to defend their copyright.

* He has been commonly accused of, and many times proven to, use half-truths and misinformation to persuade others to accept his views.
* He frequently utilizes ad hominem attacks and slanderous "low blows" against those who disagree with him, as well as simply insulting his detractors, be they politely-worded or otherwise, with a variety of invectives.
* He frequently will either imply or blatantly insult those that express dissenting opinions as being mentally ill, mentally deficient, brain damaged, or on drugs.
* Accusations by him that those he disagrees with suffer from Tourette's syndrome, made without any substantiating proof or even the suggested condition's relevancy to the subject being discussed, are especially common.
* He has ignored individuals who point out factual errors or misstatements made by him and who supply substantiating proof or references, or has responded with the above described behaviors while intentionally failing to acknowledge or respond to the individual's mention of his (Thompson's) errors.
* He has provoked several people who have e-mailed him by telling them that they should enter treatment facilities. When they respond to his comments, he invokes the protection of the Florida Cyberstalker Law and threatened legal action against them. He will not hesitate to threaten legal action against people replying to negative and often hateful emails which he himself sent in the first place.
* He often invokes broad negative stereotypes against gamers in general. For example, in an e-mail correspondence with Scott Ramsoomair, he questions: "HOnestly [sic], are all of you gamers on drugs, or what?"[23]. In a correspondence with Ryan Acheson (Gaming writer for The Horror Channel’s Dread Central), where Ryan Acheson is supporting Thompson's intentions to make games rate M inaccesible to children, he identifies "gamers' ideas" as "the latest oxymoron"[24].

And apparently buddy icons can be percieved as death threats.

All this I've found recently from reading about Jack Thompson's latest offer to donate $10,000 to a charity of Paul Eibeler's (Take-Two Interactive) choice if someone makes a game where you play as a father who goes on a murdering spree of gaming figureheads to avenge the violent death of his family.

The video game industry says Sticks and stones can break my bones, but games can never hurt me. Fine. I have a modest proposal for the video game industry. I'll write a check for $10,000 to the favorite charity of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc's chairman, Paul Eibeler - a man Bernard Goldberg ranks as #43 in his book 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America - if any video game company will create, manufacture, distribute, and sell a video game in 2006 like the following:

Osaki Kim is the father of a high school boy beaten to death with a baseball bat by a 14-year-old gamer. The killer obsessively played a violent video game in which one of the favored ways of killing is with a bat. The opening scene, before the interactive game play begins, is the Los Angeles courtroom in which the killer is sentenced "only" to life in prison after the judge and the jury have heard experts explain the connection between the game and the murder.

Osaki Kim (O.K.) exits the courtroom swearing revenge upon the video game industry whom he is convinced contributed to his son's murder. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay" he says. And boy, is O.K. not kidding.

O.K. is provided in his virtual reality playpen a panoply of weapons: machetes, Uzis, revolvers, shotguns, sniper rifles, Molotov cocktails, you name it. Even baseball bats. Especially baseball bats.

O.K. first hops a plane from LAX to New York to reach the Long Island home of the CEO of the company (Take This) that made the murder simulator on which his son's killer trained. O.K. gets "justice" by taking out this female CEO, whose name is Paula Eibel, along with her husband and kids. "An eye for an eye," says O.K., as he urinates onto the severed brain stems of the Eibel family victims, just as you do on the decapitated cops in the real video game Postal2.

O.K. then works his way, methodically back to LA by car, but on his way makes a stop at the Philadelphia law firm of Blank, Stare and goes floor by floor to wipe out the lawyers who protect Take This in its wrongful death law suits. "So sue me" O.K. spits, with singer Jackson Brown's 1980's hit Lawyers in Love blaring.

With the FBI now after him, O.K. keeps moving westward, shooting up high-tech video arcades called GameWerks. "Game over," O.K. laughs.

Of course, O.K. makes the obligatory runs to virtual versions of brick and mortar retailers Best Buy, Circuit City, Target, and Wal-Mart to steal supplies and bludgeon store managers and cash register clerks. "You should have checked kids' IDs!"

O.K. pushes on to Los Angeles. He must get there by May 10, 2006. That is the beginning of "E3" -- the Electronic Entertainment Expo -- the Super Bowl of the video game industry. O.K. must get to E3 to massacre all the video game industry execs with one final, monstrously delicious rampage.

How about it, video game industry? I've got the check and you've got the tech. It's all a fantasy, right? No harm can come from such a game, right? Go ahead, video game moguls. Target yourselves as you target others. I dare you.

What a jackass. I hope someone makes it.

And one last amusing link before I take off.
http://croqaudile.com/?article_id=10299

-Brandon

SPOILERS!!!

At the end of Serenity, Captain Kirk dies.

-Brandon

Ha!

Nothing warms my heart like a chance to shout "I fucking told you so.".
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-1798944-2,00.html

On a totally unrelated subject. National Geographics Wildcam is awesome. I've been sitting by my pc, reading, with this running and looking over from time to time. It's such a cool idea, and there's something captivating about watching and listening to it.

-Brandon