Pretty Cities

The Top 15 Skylines in the World

(Via Books, Inq.)

Blogger Lovin', Had Me A Blast...

The stages of blog love, according to gayprof.

They Have A Card For That, You Know

As hard as it is to believe, considering some of the god-awful cards I've seen, but they actually do have a pile of rejected greeting cards laying around.

(Via Bookninja)

Should I Send Frankincense Or Just Myrrh?

I think one of these puppies might be the Canine Messiah, 'cause Mama is looking very Madonna-esque.

(Via Homer's World)

Sacre Bleu!

You all know I hate the French as reflexively and unreflectively and irrationally as any toothless Appalachian who doesn't even know where France is. And if it's even possible, I hate French Canadians even more. (Dudes, you live in Canada! Stop bitching!) But I do make one exception. Oh la la!

A Holy Place Desecrated!

Thieves! Defilers! They must be hunted down and punished for their temerity!

(Via Bookninja)

The Shape Of Things To Come

What I'll probably have to deal with in ten years. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm dealing with it now! *sigh* So many books, so little room... (and time and money).

(Via Bookninja)

Western Civilization Isn't Quite Dead Yet

The American public redeemed itself (slightly) by showing just enough vestigial good taste to condemn Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector to a 7th place showing at the box office. I've never been prouder to be an American.

Who Needs A Lawyer When You Have A Serta?

If this was all it took to get a divorce in America, the divorce rate would be like 120%.

(Via Gawker)

Mr. Goody Two-Shoes

You Are 14% Evil

You are good. So good, that you make evil people squirm. Just remember, you may need to turn to the dark side to get what you want!

How Evil Are You?

(Via Professorial Confessions)

I Wish I Knew How To Sue You!

Randy Quaid is suing because he claims he was misled about the earning potential of Brokeback Mountain and, consequently, took a too-low salary. Now, I think it's a bit silly and unlikely to go anywhere, but I can't work up any sort of indignation against Randy Quaid for it. This is America and in America we have the God-given right to try to squeeze as much money out of any situation we can. And since he's the only one in the cast who really hasn't gotten awards and/or exposure from doing the movie, I say let him sue!

You Don't Own Me!

18.75 %

My weblog owns 18.75 % of me.
Does your weblog own you?

RIP

The world's oldest tortoise has died. He was 250 years old, though, so you can't say he didn't have a good run.

I Must Make A Pilgrimage!

It's Chewbacca! It's a sign from The Force!

Straight Out Of Crazy World

You know those Bud Light commercials where that "Daredevil" guy does "incredible" stunts, such as the awe-inspiring "listening to John Tesh CD" or the death-defying "talking to his girlfriend"? You know what I find funny about them (besides the fact that they set male/female relations back about fifty years by portraying men as overgrown fratboy clods and woman as touchy-feely shopaholics)? The fact that the schlub they have playing the "Daredevil" has an incredibly hot girlfriend! I mean, so hot even I would have to think a second before rejecting her sexual advances. It's just sooooo Hollywood/world of advertising, you just have to chuckle.

Duuuuuuuuuude!

I don't know if I have any stoner readers, but if I do, good news: High Times isn't "gateway reading!" So you won't have the added shame of becoming "'book junkies' who rummage through street bargain bins for a fix" after all. (What? Me a book junkie? That's just crazy talk! I can quit any time I want!)

(Via Bookninja)

Heaven, Here I Come!

If reading something three times is all it takes to get to heaven, then I've got it made!

(Via Bookninja)

We CAN All Just Get Along, Damnit!

Awwww!

Margaret Atwood

The more I read about Margaret Atwood, the odder a person she seems. At least one of her personalities has invented a remote book signing machine, so that neither of them have to actually go to a bookstore to do an author signing. It's all very Wile E. Coyote, apparently.

(Via Bookninja; Bookslut)

Superhero Religion

You know, considering how nerdy I am, it really is surprising that I'm not more into comic books. I was a fan of X-Men and old Fantastic Four TV cartoons, but never really got into comic books themselves. No reason, really, just never happened.

Anyway, despite the fact that I only know who a few of these superheroes are, this list of superhero religious affiliation is really rather fascinating. Who knew there were so many Jewish/Catholic/Episcopalian superheroes? Really, who knew that superheroes were religious at all? I mean, religion really isn't something you associate with them, ya know? You don't think of Spider-Man going to church or Batman praying; it's not what superheroing is all about. But, then, it really isn't that surprising, when a lot of superheroes have met God(s) personally (like Wonder Woman) or are themselves gods (like Thor).

(Via Pharyngula)

The Beastie Boys

I was never a huge fan of The Beastie Boys. I always thought they sounded terrible. But, really, I've never cared much about them one way or another.

At some point, though, even the disinterested have to ask, "When is it time to give the white-boy rapping up?" The answer? WHEN YOU HAVE FREAKING SALT AND PEPPER HAIR! Seriously, y'all, last night I saw Adam Yauch (alias MCA, alias Nathaniel Hornblower) on Late Night with Carson Daly (yeah, I watch it; what can I say, I'm up all night, I have to watch something) and he looks like frickin' Moses! Time to hang up the tracksuits, Boys.

For All The Medievalists In The Audience...

You scored as Wiglaf. Loyal and brave in your own right, you are Wiglaf, one of Beowulf's Geats. You are the only one of Beowulf's hand-picked troop who stood by his Lord's side as he faced the dragon. After Beowulf's death, you rebuke those who fled when they were needed most. Beowulf 67% The Dragon 67% Wiglaf 67% Hrothgar 67% Grendel 50% Wealhtheow 33% Grendel's Mother 17% If You Were in Beowulf... created with QuizFarm.com

A New Oracle; or, The i-Ching

All hail Pythia's heir: i-Tunes!

Makes me kinda wish I actually had an i-Tunes playlist so I could play, too. Oh well.

I've Always Felt Different; Turns Out It's Because I'm A Small African Nation!

You're Togo!

Small, quiet, and very insecure, you could hide in just about any crowd. Even a crowd of one or two people. Even though you're virtually anonymous anywhere you go, you could have been wealthy if people hadn't mistreated you and taken your money. This is probably most of why you're insecure. But some people who study you hard think you're cute, so maybe you should try to open up a little.

Take the Country Quiz at the Blue Pyramid!

Begosh And Begorra!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!



Don't drink and drive!




Enjoy the Irish lads (or the fair colleens, if that's your thing)!





Erin Go Bragh!

Too Close To Truth

This Onion story almost isn't funny because I can totally see something like that actually happening.

(Via Bookslut)

High School Dreamin'

Not being an academic, I've never had these particular anxiety dreams. However, there is one dream I've had a couple of times towards the end of college. Basically, despite being in college, it's found that I didn't fulfill all of my high school requirements and have to go back for some classes to complete them. So I'm both a college senior and a high school student at the same time. Considering how much I hated high school, you can imagine all the fun that dream provided. I'm not exaggerating when I say I woke up a time or two all clammy and breathing heavy; it was a literal nightmare.

(BTW, speaking of college, some college-life humor.)

I Have A Really Sucky Muse

My Muse is, apparently, a lazy ass who hasn't bothered to come 'round lately. Having too much fun on Olympus, I expect. I used to be a writer (poetry, short stories, the usual). I used to dream of being a novelist. Now? Not so much. I just can't write anymore. I mean, this blogging stuff is writing, and that may be where some of the writing energy has gone, but in terms of creative writing, the Wells of Inspiration have been dry for some time now.

Oh, well, I'll never be the gay Jackie Collins, now. No fantastic jewelry for me! (Seriously, have you ever seen that woman's bling? FABulous!)

ENERGY!

I don't know nothin' 'bout any energy drinks, but this Something Awful post makes me almost want to try one for a bout of perverse hilarity. And is it just more, or does that guy look exactly like Topher Grace?

Money Money Money Money

With money like this, who wouldn't want to be a capitalist pig?!?

Homphobia

This post, couple with an experience I had recently, got me thinking.

I'm a very lucky person, in all sorts of ways, but particularly in terms of my sexuality. I've never had to deal with gay bashing or hardcore homophobia; I've never lived in fear that my parents will throw me out of the house or stop loving more anything like that. I "pass" for straight most of the time, though I'm not trying to act straight. I have my queeny/flaming moments, but, for the most part, I just act "normally," in a way that isn't considered "gay." I've never felt conflicted or ashamed of my sexuality. In fact, I can't imagine being straight or even wanting to be. I think being gay is great.

But, despite what on the surface is the "perfect" life, despite the fact that it is supposedly "cool" to be gay nowadays and we gays are somehow taking over and destroying America with our degeneracy, it really isn't always fun to be gay in America.

More than anything, what gets me personally is the evasion. When people ask me if I'm going to get married and have kids, do I say, "No, I'm a big homo, so there will be no reproducing from me, and I'll have to move to Canada or Massachusetts to get married."? When people ask me if I have a girlfriend, do I say, "No, I'm gay. No boyfriend, either, though."? I want to say it, I almost say it, but I always chicken out with non-gendered pronouns and general answers. Why don't I come out to my father and grandmother? Why don't I ever talk about it with my mother or my sister? Because I don't want to upset anyone. Because I don't want a bad reaction that will upset me. Because I'm afraid. So I evade and omit. And that is torture. I can't be fully open in a way that straight people just naturally are.

As I said, I don't have to deal with the kind of homphobia that many of my brethren and sistren do (and all praises to the queeny queens and bull dykes and transgendered, 'cause they're the brave and strong ones). But that doesn't mean I don't deal with subtler forms.

Mighty Porno Ranger

The original Red Power Ranger (and, yes, I watched the show, until they kept changing the Rangers and it got stupid) is doing gay porn. I remember hearing that he was in some kind of softcore thing a few years ago, but this is a little bit more. He's totally roided up and doesn't look nearly as good as he did. A shame. I always liked the nerdy Blue Ranger best, anyway, though. Wonder what he's up to...

(Via Towleroad via Pink Is The New Blog)

Textbook Humor

I'm such a nerd that I actually like textbooks; the fact that I found this hilarious makes me a nerd of the highest order!

They're Not All The Same!

Different fonts have different personalities, you know!

(Via Bookninja)

"How To Create An Instant Bestseller"(?)

Or say the author of this article claims. A lot of what they say is sound advice for good writing, but some of it is a tad pedantic (i.e. they perpetuate the "split infinitive" thing that gets my goat so much). Also, I don't really think doing as they suggest is going to get you a bestseller. I mean, basically, their advice is "Write well!" Yeah, that's nice and all, but a lot of bestselling authors don't "write well" as defined by the article and I'm sure there are a lot of technically virtuous manuscripts out there no one wants to read. Being a bestseller is, I've come to believe, really about luck and marketing and sheer chance, not whether you use active or passive voice.

(Via Bookninja)

Hush, Hush

Every time "Voices Carry" comes on the radio, I instantly relax. The song is mellow, but it's more the memory that's relaxing. It was playing on the radio on a cool, clear May night about five years ago. I was riding in a friend's car on the way back from my senior prom (no date, male or female) and the window was down and the air was lovely and it was really dark (we were driving through a really rural area) and that song was on the radio and it was just so chill. Good times.

Pure Evil

A really evil method of revenge. (Some content on the other side of the link NSFW.) Don't mess with those who have your address, people! Unless you want pornography sent to you. Which reminds me, I need to call and complain about something... *LOL*

My Kind of Bird

Why fly when you can ride? And it didn't have to pay fare, either, just fly under the turnstyle. Who says pigeons ain't smart?

(Via Gawker)

Ice Sculptures

(Via New Scientist)

Stardust

One of my favorite books of all time is Neil Gaiman's Stardust. It's a beautiful fairy tale with one of the most haunting endings you've ever read.

I was excited, then, to read that there's a film adaptation in the works. But, uh, Claire Danes as Yvaine? Ugh. And the De Niro character is nowhere in the book and sounds absolutely awful. Pajiba voices concerns about the writer, as well.

*sigh* I suppose it's just going to be another Hollywood hack job of a great book.

(Via Bookslut)

Universe By Committee

It all makes sense now.

(Via Pharyngula)

Hairy Lobster

Yeah, you heard me, they've found a hairy lobster (though, actually, it isn't a true lobster, but a distant crustacean relative) in the abyssal depths of the South Pacific. Everyone else has already done all the bad/dirty jokes, so I'll just note the story without comment.

(Via Pharyngula; Hairy Museum of History; Not Only But Also)

80s Music

What is it about 80s pop music that's just so... good. I mean, even the cheesy, bubblegum stuff just seems so much better than today's cheesy, bubblegum though.

Is it just nostalgia, though? It's the music of my early childhood, so of course I have a soft spot for it. Those of different generations: is 80s pop actually good or just good if you grew up with it?

My God, I Am SOOOOOO Shallow!

This guy is writing an interesting intergeneratioinal polemic and all I can concentrate on is his total hotness!

(Via Books, Inq.)

Gotta Love The Puns

Sic Puppy

Grammar Makes Me [Sic]!

(Via Unlocked Wordhoard)

It's The Little Things...

...that turn you on, ya know? For instance, I love it when a guy has a tan body and a snowy-white ass. It's sexy as all get out.