Sunday, April 29, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
No One Tell Ahab!
In keeping with Bourgeois Nerd's long fascination with unusually white animals, here is a white orca!
(via The Hairpin)
(via The Hairpin)
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
I Just Can't Get Them Out Of My Head
I am a martyr to earworms. Sundays have the Game of Thrones theme (best theme ever? y/y?); Monday has RuPaul's songs du season (this season "Glamazon" and "The Beginning"); the rest of the week can be anything from Kate Bush to wrestler YouTube channel theme songs. I can't get no relief!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Sunday, April 08, 2012
Friday, April 06, 2012
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Youthful Indiscretions
What books read by the younger you do you look back on and cringe at?
I have to say, though there are many books that I now recognize as absolutely terrible (I'm looking at you, Valdemar books and Anita Blake), there are none I'm actually ashamed of having read and enjoyed. One should never be ashamed of things that brought one joy, even if they no longer do, even if you now violently disagree with their premises, or your taste has totally changed. They were there when you needed them, and even if you've outgrown them, you should be grateful for what they gave you at the time.
I have to say, though there are many books that I now recognize as absolutely terrible (I'm looking at you, Valdemar books and Anita Blake), there are none I'm actually ashamed of having read and enjoyed. One should never be ashamed of things that brought one joy, even if they no longer do, even if you now violently disagree with their premises, or your taste has totally changed. They were there when you needed them, and even if you've outgrown them, you should be grateful for what they gave you at the time.
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Smut?! Smut?!
I'll have you know this is art, sir/madam! Fine art, even! I mean, that ass is unequivocally art, and it is fiiiiiiine.
(Via Choire Sicha)
(Via Choire Sicha)
Monday, March 26, 2012
Can I Get Two Fivers For A Turing?
There is a petition afoot to put Alan Turing on the next version of the 10 pound bill. I think I have some Brit readers, so why don't you consider signing and giving a little (symbolic) justice to a tragic and brilliant man cruelly used, especially after his posthumous pardon was rejected just last month?
(Via Andrew Sullivan)
(Via Andrew Sullivan)
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Bourgeois Book Club
Carthage Must Be Destroyed
by Richard Miles
A history of Carthage, the city-state that went from Phoenician colony to Mediterranean superpower and Rome's greatest enemy. Indeed, Carthage is in many ways how Rome became Rome; the conflict with Carthage shaped Rome's conception of itself, as well as launched it to become an Empire beyond the confines of Italy.
History is written by the victors, so most of the sources are still Roman or pro-Roman, making a fair history of Carthage a difficult case of teasing out and evaluating the biases of the sources, which the author does fairly well, in my view. Still, it's a little more Roman-centric than I wanted. Too much about the Punic Wars and not enough about the Carthaginians themselves. I wanted to know more about them in North Africa, in Spain, their relations with peoples other than Romans and Greeks, their post-Punic culture, the life of the average Carthaginian citizen, all of which is touched on, but not to the degree I wanted. Archaeology is used, but the ancient sources are still the mainspring of the knowledge.
Still, a worthy effort to bring an all-too-shadowy people to light.
Artemis
by Philip Palmer
The second Palmer book I've read now, and a sorta-sequel to his Debatable Space
which I have not read but isn't necessary to read in order to understand this one, Artemis is perhaps more interesting than it is enjoyable. It is different in its use of a vigorously unreliable narrator who quite openly omits information, as well as a second narrator that is the "editor" of this "autobiography" who just as honestly cuts out sections and contextualizes facts via footnote (which we know I always go for). It's also vigorously discursive narratively, jumping about in chronology, veering off into diversions and tangents. There is less emotional punch, though, than I feel was intended, and the attempt to make the primary narrator a "monster" less successful than Palmer aimed for. We're told she does horrible things, but we're meant to sympathize with her anyway, but she does horrible things to horrible people, and she's "endearing" personally. It just didn't quite add up.
I may just hold off on further Palmer books. The massive death tolls, genocide, and monstrous heroes are a bit... much, and it seems to be a hallmark of his work. He is totally a misanthrope. His opinion of humanity is loooooooooooooow, and it can be a little hard to take. And the constant battles and fights and bloodshed tend to blur together and deaden impact. They're interesting adventures, but I can't say I really like them.
Low Town
by Daniel Polansky
In this noir tale of dark magic in a Restoration-meets-post-WWI-ish city, children are being abducted and murdered in Low Town, and it is up to local drug dealer Warden to find out who is behind the appalling crimes.
It's interesting in how the main character is given unlikeable character traits. He's a drug dealer and user, as well as a casual racist. Of course, he's still the hero, complete with a well-worn "orphaned war vet former agent of the law fallen on hard times because of a woman" tragic backstory. Underneath the world-weary small-time criminality, he's practically a superhero in terms of ultimate morality. But that's the thing about making an antihero protagonist, as both Polansky and Palmer try to do: you can't make them TOO "anti." Both authors end up telling us how much of a bastard their main characters are, but are not ultimately terribly convincing in making us believe it. They're just heroes who wear dirty clothes and say bad words.
There is a twist ending to Low Town, but you see it coming a mile away. Still, it's an enjoyable enough read, if not as successful at some of its own aims as it wants to be.
by Richard MilesA history of Carthage, the city-state that went from Phoenician colony to Mediterranean superpower and Rome's greatest enemy. Indeed, Carthage is in many ways how Rome became Rome; the conflict with Carthage shaped Rome's conception of itself, as well as launched it to become an Empire beyond the confines of Italy.
History is written by the victors, so most of the sources are still Roman or pro-Roman, making a fair history of Carthage a difficult case of teasing out and evaluating the biases of the sources, which the author does fairly well, in my view. Still, it's a little more Roman-centric than I wanted. Too much about the Punic Wars and not enough about the Carthaginians themselves. I wanted to know more about them in North Africa, in Spain, their relations with peoples other than Romans and Greeks, their post-Punic culture, the life of the average Carthaginian citizen, all of which is touched on, but not to the degree I wanted. Archaeology is used, but the ancient sources are still the mainspring of the knowledge.
Still, a worthy effort to bring an all-too-shadowy people to light.
Artemis
by Philip PalmerThe second Palmer book I've read now, and a sorta-sequel to his Debatable Space
which I have not read but isn't necessary to read in order to understand this one, Artemis is perhaps more interesting than it is enjoyable. It is different in its use of a vigorously unreliable narrator who quite openly omits information, as well as a second narrator that is the "editor" of this "autobiography" who just as honestly cuts out sections and contextualizes facts via footnote (which we know I always go for). It's also vigorously discursive narratively, jumping about in chronology, veering off into diversions and tangents. There is less emotional punch, though, than I feel was intended, and the attempt to make the primary narrator a "monster" less successful than Palmer aimed for. We're told she does horrible things, but we're meant to sympathize with her anyway, but she does horrible things to horrible people, and she's "endearing" personally. It just didn't quite add up. I may just hold off on further Palmer books. The massive death tolls, genocide, and monstrous heroes are a bit... much, and it seems to be a hallmark of his work. He is totally a misanthrope. His opinion of humanity is loooooooooooooow, and it can be a little hard to take. And the constant battles and fights and bloodshed tend to blur together and deaden impact. They're interesting adventures, but I can't say I really like them.
Low Town
by Daniel PolanskyIn this noir tale of dark magic in a Restoration-meets-post-WWI-ish city, children are being abducted and murdered in Low Town, and it is up to local drug dealer Warden to find out who is behind the appalling crimes.
It's interesting in how the main character is given unlikeable character traits. He's a drug dealer and user, as well as a casual racist. Of course, he's still the hero, complete with a well-worn "orphaned war vet former agent of the law fallen on hard times because of a woman" tragic backstory. Underneath the world-weary small-time criminality, he's practically a superhero in terms of ultimate morality. But that's the thing about making an antihero protagonist, as both Polansky and Palmer try to do: you can't make them TOO "anti." Both authors end up telling us how much of a bastard their main characters are, but are not ultimately terribly convincing in making us believe it. They're just heroes who wear dirty clothes and say bad words.
There is a twist ending to Low Town, but you see it coming a mile away. Still, it's an enjoyable enough read, if not as successful at some of its own aims as it wants to be.
The Betrayal of George Lucas
Why does George Lucas elicit such a sense of betrayal in Star Wars fans? For me, at least, it's the inexplicable sense of contempt he seems to hold for the fans of his work. How else could he try to push that bullshit about Greedo always having shot first? The petulance that anyone would dare question his "artistic vision," the self-absorption that doesn't seem to allow him to conceive that his "art" isn't just his anymore, that he gave it to the world and the world doesn't have to agree with him about it, the arrogant indulgence of whatever he happens to feel like doing today, because they're his toys, damnit: all of this is why we feel so hurt.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The Doctor Better Break Out The Tux, Because He's Dancing At This Wedding, Too!
For any gentlemen contemplating proposing marriage to their geeky gals or guys, this ring is perfect.
(Via Tor)
(Via Tor)
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Nerd Vs. Weird
One can be a nerd and not be weird. True. And there is definitely a lot more space in the culture for "nerdy" pursuits and interests. But... it's hard not to detect a whiff of "These (nerd) kids today have it so easy! In my day....!" I hate that, because wearing your isolation or schoolyard abuse as a badge of honor is just creepy, man. It's a good thing that society has opened up to nerdiness and geekitude! I don't want others to suffer what I did! I also sometimes think people exaggerate how "cool" it is to be a "nerd" now. I suspect it's not quite as sunshine and roses as some like to imagine. Just because it's okay now to own a "lightsaber" doesn't mean the guys who wear stormtrooper outfits to cons are suddenly the "jocks."
(Via Andrew Sullivan)
(Via Andrew Sullivan)
Sunday, March 11, 2012
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