Geek-Out Time!

Finally, I can realize my childhood dream to be Princess Leia! Metal Bikini Leia, of course, not Bun Hair Leia.

(Via Towleroad)

How Cruisey Must THOSE Hanging Gardens Have Been!

For once, I actually wish I was in LA, just so I could go see Beefcake Babylon. My latent homosexuality, love of mythology, and devotion to Mystery Science Theater 3000 (which featured a lot of these kind of movies) made me a big fan of the "sword and sandals" genre.

(Via Defamer)

The Dangers (?) Of Academic Blogs

When I got into blogs a year and a half ago, I was entering my last semester of college and staring out into the void of What Am I Going To Do Now? Since I'm such a nerd and such a bookworm, I was really thinking I'd go to grad school and become an English professor. Therefore, I made a conscious decision to read a lot of academic blogs (a number of which are linked in the sidebar). Not only was I genuinely interested in the subjects they write about, but I thought it would give me a better idea of the lay of the land of my possible career.

Reading the academic blogs, though, had an unforeseen side-effect: I realized I was totally not cut out to walk amidst the groves of academe. Every workplace or institution is full of politics and petty jealousies, that is human nature, but the sheer viciousness and bloodthirstyness of academia is astounding. And I realized that isn't all reading and Thinking Thoughts, but a lot of bureaucratic bullcrap, often not very well-paid. The job market being what it is, there's no guarantee you'll even have a job in the end; even if you get a job, you'll probably have to move around a lot, which, for a person of a change-averse character such as mine, isn't a very attractive prospect. The grad school experience sounds absolutely dire, incestuous and emotionally abusive. All of this is Not For Me, so I decided that academia just wasn't in the cards.

Though I've now gone off the idea, I do wonder if my reasons were good. I mean, the point of blogs is, partly, to bitch and moan. And I might not have read a representative sample. Maybe most professors are happy and contented, had a great time at grad school, had no problems writing their thesis, find a job easily, love teaching, while still doing meaningful research, like their colleagues, and enjoy a happy and balanced home life. I kinda doubt it, but it could be possible. Did I let the academic blogs turn me off something I should have gone for? Just thinking.

Dialect

I don't know if this a South Jersey thing, a Philadelphia metro area thing, a Mid-Atlantic thing, an American thing or what, but I've noticed that I and a lot of other people around me, when saying the phrase "go ahead," turn it into "gaw head." Has anyone else noticed this where they are?

I Like 'Em Better Before They're Butterflies Anyway

Check out this cute (but dangerous) caterpillar. It really looks like some sort of animatronic plush toy. Except, you know, venomous.

The Debate Continues

The debate about "genre" vs. "literary" fiction, that is. I agree with some of the Bookninja commenters: some sort of genre categorization (or "ghettoization" if you want to be militant) is necessary. Otherwise, we'd never be able to find anything we liked. That doesn't mean, however, that you can or should dismiss a whole genre. It may not be your thing, but it doesn't automatically mean it's trash. And there is a middle ground, you know, between schlock and "littrachure", of books that are just fun and entertaining. Not worth stressing out over where in the bookstore they're placed.

Sure, He Didn't Lead England To A World Cup Victory...

...but who cares when he looks this good?!?! Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaayum! I don't even find him that hot, usually, but I can't deny that this vacation is really agreeing with him.

Coming Out

So, as you've probably heard if you visit any sort of gossip/Hollywood/celebrity website, Lance Bass has come out of the closet. "Well, DUUUUUH!" a lot of people cry. And, well, yeah, most people have "known" for, like, ever. But there is a difference between "knowing" and knowing. Plus, incredible as it may seem, a lot of people probably are suprised by the news (if they even know who he is). Also, I'd rather have a Lance Bass come out about five years after we all "knew" than a bevy of Kevin Spaceys and Sean Hayeses who stay in the closet forever, not doing a damn thing for their fellow homosexuals. So, bravo, Lance, I say! Bravo!

Now Where Did I Leave That Book...

I really must visit Ireland one of these days. It is the ancestral land of much of my family. (Though Scotland is probably the actual "motherland." In addition to a couple of distaff Scottish lines, the patrinomial line it's likely, if family tradition and the geographical area my great grandfather came from mean anything, more Ulster/Scots-Irish than Irish-Irish. Of course, the original Scots were an Irish tribe that merged with the Picts and invading Vikings to create what we think of as Scotland. And humans and their genetic material get about so much anyway that a thousand years ago my male-line ancestors may have been Russian Slavs!) But more importantly, there's old books just lying about!

(Via Bookninja)

The Joycean Semiotics Of The Joker: A Poststructuralist Analysis of Supervillany

Those academics are just no fun. They'll also kill and dissect your dog, apparently.

(Via Bookninja)

Woof!

I went with my father on Friday to pick up a new toilet. (My mother is having the upstairs bathroom redone.) To my surprise, the plumbing supply place was saffed by a whole sleuth of blue-collar bear-Daddy types. Yeah, they had beer guts (of varying sizes) covered by those patterned, not-quite-Hawaiian-but-the-same-idea shirts, but they were just all manly and sexy and crap. I'd let them take me to their teddy bear picnic any day!

And Here I Thought It Was Just About Naked Pictures Of Adolescents

I don't know much about MySpace really, so this article goes over my head a bit. It does lead me to ask, however, just why so many people are into MySpace. What's the appeal? What I've seen of it really hasn't impressed me, to be honest. I must be missing something, though.

(Via Defamer)

Oh NO He Didn't!

Nicholas Cage as Liberace?!?!? WTF! I thought I couldn't be more disgusted with him after seeing National Treasure. Then I saw the trailer for World Trade Center and his vomit-inducing New York "accent" and bad toupee. Now this? I shudder to think what's next.

(Via Gawker; Joe. My. God.)

Dog Beer

Yeah, you heard me, dog beer. For the enjoyment Fido Sixpacks of America, I suppose

New Shoes

I got a desperately-need new pair of shoes on Sunday. There's nothing like a new pair of sneakers, is there? They're just so white and bright and cushy and new. You don't even want to wear them, lest you sully their pristine condition. It's always a little sad to see those new sneakers get worn and stained and, ultimately, discarded. Makes one think of one's own mortality....

Wow, I can make anything depressing! Yay me!

Question For New York Gays...

What's up with Barney's? I mean, why is it so popular with The Gays? Why that particular department store? Just curious.

Partaaaaaay!

When I get my own place and have my first party, I'm as lucky as Maggie and get a drunk, half-naked lug with a big boner to help me clean up.

I've Seen It In Movies, So It Must Be True To Life

A gay boy should have one or both of two things in his life: a wise older lesbian and/or an outwardly bitter and jaded, but secretly kind-hearted, drag queen. If I had just one of these essentials, I truly feel I would be a better, fiercer, more fabulous Gay who got laid a hell of a lot more.

I'm A Coward

So, as you all know, I started this job earlier in the month. Overall, I quite like it; it isn't too difficult and I like most of the people I work with (and can tolerate the rest). But there is one issue that is kinda getting to me. I work with a lot of like 16-18 year olds. It is not, therefore, entirely shocking that some of the guys say some quasi-homophobic things like, "That's gay!" or "You're gay!" (as an insult). It doesn't bother me too much, because the guys are young and don't know much better and I don't believe they "really mean it."

Still, I know in my heart of hearts, I should come out and confront this issue. But I haven't. Mostly, it's because I don't want to be a walking afterschool special. Explaining homosexuality just isn't my thing and I feel no need to justify myself to anyone. I really hate the inevitable "So why are you gay?" questions because I don't have good answers. What seems so self-evident to me -- "Well, why are you straight? Guys just do it for me." -- doesn't seem to always satisfy people. Guess I'm just not a good spokesperson for the Homosexual Agenda or something.

I must admit, though, that's there is an element of sheer cowardice (if that's the right word, which I'm not sure it quite is) to my passivity. I just don't want to "rock the boat" or cause any unpleasantness. I'm not really worried about a gay bashing or a hostile working environment because I know the other people, including the supervisors, would never let it get to that level, and because the young guys really aren't that way, but, always, there's a voice of doom and gloom in the back of my mind that makes me over-contemplate the worst case scenario. I'm the kind of person who just can't stand even the potential for any kind of awkwardness and confrontation. So I remain silent.

I feel tremendous guilt, though. By avoiding the issue, I feel like I'm letting my gay brethren and sistren down. In this era of hate and ignorance, it is our duty to educate and enlighten. But I'm not doing my part for The Cause. What does that say about me? I can decry the homophobic society that has produced this situation and makes it an issue in the first place, but in the end I have to take responsibility for my own actions and agency. By not having the courage to do a relatively simple thing like say, "Hey, I'm gay and don't really appreciate your comments," I allow fear and homophobia to triumph and betray my queer fellows.

Cicadas

One of my favorite parts of summer has arrived: the cicadas are now active. I have no idea why, but the choirs of hissing/rattling/buzzing that roll through the air in waves, building and cresting like surf on the beach, are one of the few parts of the relentless heat that I truly enjoy.