(Via Roids and Rants [NSFW]; Bill in Exile [NSFW])
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
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Skimpy Sunday
(Via Wolf Gangbang [NSFW]; Roids and Rants [NSFW]; Bill in Exile [NSFW]; Overnight to London [NSFW])
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Big Bird: Bad Ass
It's funny, but I was never a big Sesame Street fan. My mother tells me when she'd put me in front of it as a baby, I'd cry. Yet for some reason I still vividly remember and enjoyed some of the specials, particularly the one where Big Bird & Co. go to China, as well as the one where Big Bird defies the very gods themselves!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Yeast and the Restless
It's not just humans that get amorous after a bit of wine or beer; yeast strains have been gettin' busy for thousands of years, too!
From This Chair, I Shall RULE THE GALAXY!
I would sit on this inflatable Emperor's throne so hard it'd probably pop and drop me straight onto the floor. I'd scream like the Emperor hurtling down the Death Star whilst falling, too.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Bourgeois Book Club
Precious Objects
by Alicia Oltuski
An examination of the diamond trade, specifically the New York diamond trade on 47th Street, from the viewpoint of the scion of a trading family. Using her own family history and interviews with a diverse array of diamond industry characters, she particularly explores Jewish identity of the New York diamond trade. It's an interesting glimpse into an opaque world (ha ha, I made a gemstone funny), but I admit, as someone who collects and is fascinated by gemstones, it didn't really grab me.
Oltuski has an interesting angle with her family connections, but in some ways it was too personal. Oltuski has an MFA in writing, and it shows. Her focus was on stories, whereas I found the more prosaic stuff more interesting. A worthwhile read, if not one that quite did it for me.
Man Seeks God
by Eric Weiner
One man's journey to figure just what it is he believes. Raised Jewish, but only nominally and gastronomically, an ultimately minor and inconsequential trip to the hospital sends Weiner on a journey around the world to "find God" by studying Sufism, then Buddhism, Catholicism, Raelianism (a UFO-based religion), Taoism, Wicca, Shamanism, and, finally, Kabbalah.
I identify a great deal with Weiner. I, too, almost an atheist, but not quite, full of doubt and anxiety. We both love books, and are passive by nature, always looking for a push instead of pushing himself, looking for someone to GIVE him an answer for fear if he answers himself he'll get it wrong, and, above all neurotic. In fact, his description of neurosis is one of the most incisive I've ever seen:
Also, the conceit of finding God via personal ad (one for each religion opens the chapter), flirtation, and courtship, is cute, but brings absolutely nothing except cuteness to the proceedings.
But my biggest problem with Man Seeks God is I couldn't help feel it was all predetermined. I mean, of course he didn't find god in Buddhism; we still had five or six chapters to go! And of course he doesn't come to some real conclusion about God, just decides he learned something from all of the religions, kumbaya. The whole project ultimately strikes me as an excuse to write a book and travel. It's contributing to the "let me read the encyclopedia for a year, or live according to the Bible, or stand on my head for a month" memoir genre, not actually saying anything really interesting. Weiner would never have done this, I believe, without a book contract or an agent's go-ahead.
And ultimately pointless and cynical endeavor, if well-written and occasionally interesting.
The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
Myffanwy Thomas is gone. Someone else is in her body, now, and that someone has to figure out who in the shadowy supernatural organization known as the Checquy Group tried to kill her before they try again. And as she goes deeper into the inner workings of the Group, the new Myffanwy finds that an even deeper, and much darker, conspiracy lurks in the shadows, waiting to cut her and everyone else in the Group down.
Witty and well-written, I must highlight one conceit that I found particularly enjoyable: The original Myffanwy uses letters to bring the new one up to speed on her job as an administrator and the world of supernatural spying. Its an ingenious use of epistolary elements for infodump purposes. It also allows us to get to know the "old" Myffanwy even as we get to know the new one.
Part spy-thriller, part urban fantasy, part bureaucratic comedy, The Rook is an extremely fun read with fantastic world-building.
Version 43
by Philip Palmer
In the future, criminals and undesirables are dumped by the civilized planets on distant worlds via quantum teleportation (of which there is a 50/50 chance of survival). On one of these worlds, Belladonna, lies Lawless City, a "wretched hive of scum and villainy" (to borrow the words from another science fiction universe), a cyborg cop struggles to bring law and order to Lawless City on the planet Belladonna, uncovering layer upon layer of conspiracy while trying to maintain his humanity. Meanwhile, a ravenous hive-minded alien species plots to destroy humanity.
An interesting look at identity, revolution, and evolution. A bit of quantum woo-woo, but it doesn't really detract from anything.
by Alicia OltuskiAn examination of the diamond trade, specifically the New York diamond trade on 47th Street, from the viewpoint of the scion of a trading family. Using her own family history and interviews with a diverse array of diamond industry characters, she particularly explores Jewish identity of the New York diamond trade. It's an interesting glimpse into an opaque world (ha ha, I made a gemstone funny), but I admit, as someone who collects and is fascinated by gemstones, it didn't really grab me.
Oltuski has an interesting angle with her family connections, but in some ways it was too personal. Oltuski has an MFA in writing, and it shows. Her focus was on stories, whereas I found the more prosaic stuff more interesting. A worthwhile read, if not one that quite did it for me.
Man Seeks God
by Eric WeinerOne man's journey to figure just what it is he believes. Raised Jewish, but only nominally and gastronomically, an ultimately minor and inconsequential trip to the hospital sends Weiner on a journey around the world to "find God" by studying Sufism, then Buddhism, Catholicism, Raelianism (a UFO-based religion), Taoism, Wicca, Shamanism, and, finally, Kabbalah.
I identify a great deal with Weiner. I, too, almost an atheist, but not quite, full of doubt and anxiety. We both love books, and are passive by nature, always looking for a push instead of pushing himself, looking for someone to GIVE him an answer for fear if he answers himself he'll get it wrong, and, above all neurotic. In fact, his description of neurosis is one of the most incisive I've ever seen:
Theologian Paul Tillich defines neurosis as “a way of avoiding non-being by avoiding being.” He’s right. Neurosis is a psychic purgatory that leaves its victim suspended between pain and relief. It’s also exhausting. The care and feeding of my pet neurosis increasingly leaves me with little energy for anything else.Yet, sometimes, my identification worked against my enjoyment. I get sick of me, so to read another person who's a lot like me... Well, it can get annoying. I'm in my head too much as it is; why would I want to explore one all-too-similar? Also, Weiner gives off the whiff of that bane of white neurotics who travel for enlightenment: "Oh, isn't all this suffering in this country so authentic! These lucky, lucky indigenous people; their lives are so real!" Annoying, to say the least.
Also, the conceit of finding God via personal ad (one for each religion opens the chapter), flirtation, and courtship, is cute, but brings absolutely nothing except cuteness to the proceedings.
But my biggest problem with Man Seeks God is I couldn't help feel it was all predetermined. I mean, of course he didn't find god in Buddhism; we still had five or six chapters to go! And of course he doesn't come to some real conclusion about God, just decides he learned something from all of the religions, kumbaya. The whole project ultimately strikes me as an excuse to write a book and travel. It's contributing to the "let me read the encyclopedia for a year, or live according to the Bible, or stand on my head for a month" memoir genre, not actually saying anything really interesting. Weiner would never have done this, I believe, without a book contract or an agent's go-ahead.
And ultimately pointless and cynical endeavor, if well-written and occasionally interesting.
The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
Myffanwy Thomas is gone. Someone else is in her body, now, and that someone has to figure out who in the shadowy supernatural organization known as the Checquy Group tried to kill her before they try again. And as she goes deeper into the inner workings of the Group, the new Myffanwy finds that an even deeper, and much darker, conspiracy lurks in the shadows, waiting to cut her and everyone else in the Group down.
Witty and well-written, I must highlight one conceit that I found particularly enjoyable: The original Myffanwy uses letters to bring the new one up to speed on her job as an administrator and the world of supernatural spying. Its an ingenious use of epistolary elements for infodump purposes. It also allows us to get to know the "old" Myffanwy even as we get to know the new one.
Part spy-thriller, part urban fantasy, part bureaucratic comedy, The Rook is an extremely fun read with fantastic world-building.
Version 43
by Philip PalmerIn the future, criminals and undesirables are dumped by the civilized planets on distant worlds via quantum teleportation (of which there is a 50/50 chance of survival). On one of these worlds, Belladonna, lies Lawless City, a "wretched hive of scum and villainy" (to borrow the words from another science fiction universe), a cyborg cop struggles to bring law and order to Lawless City on the planet Belladonna, uncovering layer upon layer of conspiracy while trying to maintain his humanity. Meanwhile, a ravenous hive-minded alien species plots to destroy humanity.
An interesting look at identity, revolution, and evolution. A bit of quantum woo-woo, but it doesn't really detract from anything.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Why All Dogs Go To Heaven
Here are twenty-five heroic dogs. I have every confidence that my dogs would save me if need be. Well, a lot of confidence. Some confidence? Okay, I think they'd leave me to die, but it doesn't matter, I love them anyway!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
True Love Will Not Be Denied!
The zoo officials, the infidelity, the very laws of nature itself could not keep this couple apart! Happy Valentine's!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Monday, February 06, 2012
A Year in Books
At the end of January 2011, during one of my weekly visits to the bookstore, I bought one of these nifty Moleskine journals
. I decided to record my reading over the course of a year and see what patterns and habits might be found. That year has now come to a close, and now it's time to take a look at the data.
"Methodology"
In the case of multiple works by the same author, the author was counted each time, not just once. Reread books were counted for each reading. A number of books could be categorized in multiple genres; for the sake of ease, such books were only counted in the genre I (arbitrarily) decided was the best fit. Books that I began, but did not finish, are counted in a separate category.
Numbers
Total books read: 99
Fiction: 87
Non-Fiction: 12
Books by male authors: 70
Books by female authors: 27
Books by authors of indeterminate gender: 2
History: 5
Miscellaneous (memoirs, non-mystery historical fiction): 6
Mystery: 6
Math/Science: 5
Science Fiction: 29
Fantasy: 48
Unfinished: 12
Conclusions
I read. A lot. I'm surprised the non-fiction count was so low, but I do tend to go in spurts of non-fiction reading, so I may have mistaken concentration for quantity. Fantasy is far and away my preferred genre of fiction, though I did a lot of sci-fi reading at the end of the year. I'm still a misogynist pig, something I'm really deflated by and hope to continue to combat.
The Future
My goal for the year is to break 100 completed reads. I also want to read more female authors, and hopefully I can achieve a bit more parity among genres. I've got a new journal, so expect another report in February 2013. I may also, if I feel like it, provide occasional updates throughout the year.
. I decided to record my reading over the course of a year and see what patterns and habits might be found. That year has now come to a close, and now it's time to take a look at the data."Methodology"
In the case of multiple works by the same author, the author was counted each time, not just once. Reread books were counted for each reading. A number of books could be categorized in multiple genres; for the sake of ease, such books were only counted in the genre I (arbitrarily) decided was the best fit. Books that I began, but did not finish, are counted in a separate category.
Numbers
Total books read: 99
Fiction: 87
Non-Fiction: 12
Books by male authors: 70
Books by female authors: 27
Books by authors of indeterminate gender: 2
History: 5
Miscellaneous (memoirs, non-mystery historical fiction): 6
Mystery: 6
Math/Science: 5
Science Fiction: 29
Fantasy: 48
Unfinished: 12
Conclusions
I read. A lot. I'm surprised the non-fiction count was so low, but I do tend to go in spurts of non-fiction reading, so I may have mistaken concentration for quantity. Fantasy is far and away my preferred genre of fiction, though I did a lot of sci-fi reading at the end of the year. I'm still a misogynist pig, something I'm really deflated by and hope to continue to combat.
The Future
My goal for the year is to break 100 completed reads. I also want to read more female authors, and hopefully I can achieve a bit more parity among genres. I've got a new journal, so expect another report in February 2013. I may also, if I feel like it, provide occasional updates throughout the year.
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