" “>
The idea that a few million people can't vote in America because of deliberately misguided voter ID laws is reprehensible at best. I can't explain it any better than John Oliver, so take a look.
rights
John Oliver skewers voter ID laws
The best things in life aren't yellow
" “>
It's amazing the number of things that are yellow in color that are unappealing. Lemonade is pretty great, but I wouldn't say it's a best thing in life. It's not even that yellow and it's liquid, so there's no chance of it looking like a banana. There might be a banana-shaped drink pitcher or beer mug, though. Closely related to lemonade, but produced in a completely different manner and lacking lemonade's appeal, is urine. Sure, you can pee into your radiator or write your …
politics
RE: I already support progressive causes. Stop spamming me.
" “>
Dear Progressive Friends,
Look, I like you. I'm glad you're working to get the insane Citizen's United overturned and the entire raft of other things we'd all like to see. It makes me feel good to know that I'm not alone, and I appreciate that there are more than enough people to create all manner of organizations that champion our causes.
What I don't appreciate, however, is all of the spam. I already spend enough of my time every day working on the same things you people …
journalism
Hey, MSM! Something to say? Just say it!
" “>
The flowery language. The academia polished until the shine is almost unbearable. The suggestion of an opinion. The metaphor, obscure references, and sardonic wit. These are all hallmarks common to most pundits, and it annoys me to no end.
Can we please just get to the point?!
In a piece published on the MSNBC site today, Irin Carmon discusses the hand gestures Bernie Sanders' makes while talking. This is how she sums up that piece:
Male politicians can face potential …
television
NBC's Grimm is freaking amazing
" “>
Peg me as a media nerd, and I'll nod and thank you for the compliment. I love media. The various types of media I consume are just different methods of telling stories. I love books and music and anime and comics and movies and television, but more specifically what I really love is a good story.
NBC's Grimm is a good story.
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In a nutshell, Grimm is a supernatural crime drama …
Instantiation, a short story
" “>
The area around me is dark, but there is enough ambient light to see that there is nothing around me. When I breath out, I can see the vapor. It's cold, but I can't feel it. I touch my left forefinger to my right arm and I can feel the hairs rise to meet the fingertip. I think that means there's a slight static charge in the atmosphere. I can't wrap my mind around the idea that it can be cold enough to see my breath, but not cold enough to discomfort me.
"Hello," I call out …
The best Science Fiction is on TV right now
" “>
Science fiction has been on a downturn over the last decade. Sure, we get event movies a few times a year, but a lot of that audience has been taken over by tales of comic book heroes. Marvel is a hugely dominating force in film these days, but the real core audience for science fiction used to be found on the small screen. Science fiction fans demand longer, more complex stories, deeper character development, and to have their thoughts poked. Star Trek is most commonly …
There is only one option. Vote.
" “>
I've been struggling against the Right for months now, and I'm already feeling burnt out by all the hate and subterfuge. While it would be enormously fulfilling to me to find my words having an affect on a single, solitary conservative, I am convinced that day will not come. If I might use a regional metaphor, we are the coast of Southern California fighting against The Wedge of the Right Wing. The Pacific may be vast, but those who spend their entire days railing against …
writing
Dwelling inside the persistent shadow of creativity
" “>
I am a writer.
This is what I do. For a living. Well, not so much lately, but it's the single most salient job I identify with. Back when I was a kid, being introduced to new stuff like Brave New World and Dune and Catcher in the Rye, I fell madly in love with the idea of becoming a writer.
It didn't take long to discover that it wasn't going to be easy.
In fact, it wasn't until 1996, when I was a mere 27 years old, that I started writing professionally. It was work, not …
Linux, as a desktop, missed its window of opportunity
" “>
Don't troll me, bro. I'm no Linux hater. I used Linux for years. I started with Caldera back when we didn't know that SCO was evil. Despite lacking coding skills of any kind, I hand-crafted my system from the ground up. At that time I was so tired of Windows that I ran Windows apps from a server to my desktop machine just so I could use Linux as my daily driver.
Linux is a fantastic OS. It's powerful, capable, efficient, and dynamic. You can make it do anything you want, as …
Blogging is a lot like... well, something, I can tell you!
" “>
I don't know why, but it always seems like when I'm confronted with the need to develop an idea for a post, I think about blogging.
Weird.
When I write, especially here, I am blogging, so what's the point of writing about blogging as I write on a blog? Not sure, really, but it seems like the thing to do. So, here's some writing about blogging. First, though, an image for no real reason.
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Making a murderer making me mad
" “>Binge TV. yay. Thanks Netflix. Yesterday, nothing better to do, I fired up the first episode of Netflix’s Making A Murderer documini-series.
OMG!
So, ludicrously engrossing, engaging, frustrating. You should watch it if you haven't already. Just be prepared for frustration. Without giving away anything, I can say that there is no resolution at the end. Nothing is solved. The Avery's aren't made whole. You will likely be disgusted and pray you never end up with the …
music
XTC. You know. The band...
" “>
I'm not a music critic, and I have a shitty memory, but there were some really interesting bands coming out of the late 70's and 80's. One of them was a little group called XTC. You likely know them for this...
It's just the audio version, so feel free to keep reading. When I was sort of growing up in Pasadena (long story) I spent many years listening to the then influential KROQ 106.7 FM. Back then KROQ was probably the single most powerful New Wave/Alternative station, …
Listening
Reading
Stranger in a Strange Land
Robert A. Heinlein
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