27 Jan 12 Spiegel im Spiegel
Looking at the images of a bygone world, and a forgotten populace, the slow music and its echoed notes really hit me deeply. Nice music to enjoy underneath a blanket tonight.
19 Jan 12 Two Jasperjohns – It, Part 3. Also, “cottlegrobbling”.
Even without the 13-hour day at work today, this would be hilarious. Jim Noonan is quickly becoming my internet bear crush (he’s a redhead, like my boyfriend), and his little “sexy walk speech” in the middle of this video is very endearing. But easily, the funniest part of this video are the crass ladies at the end!
I’d recommend seeing the entire ‘Two Jasperjohns’ series if you’re not getting it–every episode is a treasure. A snarky, hairy, homosexual treasure. See them here:Two Jasperjohns
09 Jan 12 Movie Review: Limitless
Your boredom will be limitless.
Typically, Taften and I will sit and kill time by playing video games, and in between us we’ll have a monitor playing some movie on Netflix. Usually, this is done with the unwritten rule that we take turns and that I’ll pick a movie, then he’ll pick a movie. I’ll find something from PBS or National Geographic, and he’ll say something like:
It’s attractive that you’re so intellectual but this is not cool at all, sorry.
And then there will be times where Taften will turn on something and I will complain in a much less verbose, more whiny version about how terrible of a movie it is, how it doesn’t tell us anything, how it’s only vaguely entertaining. Sometimes, in my best form, I’ll be able to MST3K it and get some good jabs in at the film–which, to his credit, Taften usually laughs at.
Limitless is one of those movies where it’s certainly entertaining–where is the story going next? it follows a basic thriller method–but what’s the message of the story? I see some elements of the “ship of Theseus” debate, put forth as a vaguely existential drama. But the movie focuses more on the material gains of being motivated and how your progress can be almost, well, limitless if you simply put your mind to it. Why, anything (even complex mathematics and stock exchanges) are just a few scene changes away from your present studio apartment over a Chinese express diner! The movie producers who skimmed off the multi-million dollar budget of this movie aren’t even laughing, this is just too formulaic.
The movie starts in media res. As Bradley Cooper is standing at the top of this building, about to commit suicide and giving his voiceover, I can’t help but think in my head:
Cooper: How did I get here?
Billo: I bet you’re about to tell me!
Starting a movie out with the main character about to commit suicide doesn’t really give me any interesting reason to watch the next 2 hours–he might as well have jumped, for all I cared.
With a face like this, you know he's going to only write self-help novels.
Cooper goes through the motions of encountering the wonder drug NZT, cleaning his apartment, doing some writing, and generally upsetting his overall bland existence. I think that the movie could have maybe expanded on how much happier he was with simply having washed hair and a clean apartment–why go through the remaining 2 hours of motions of how much more he can achieve? It’d at least be realistic, and the domestic drama of him trying to unravel the life he annihilated would have been more interesting to me had he not had the, well, limitless resources that this wonder drug gave him. As it was it became the story of the nouveau riche attempting to disassociate himself from his old life–Russian money, lack of self control, drinking and drug habits–while not getting noticed by the other blue bloods.
Eventually, the movie jumped the shark when Cooper’s girlfriend takes the drug and essentially becomes Superwoman. Climbing over wooden rails, dropping ten feet and not losing her momentum, then using a child’s skates as a vicious weapon to cut the cheek of her pursuer. Afterwards, in a fit of pique, she claims she will never take the drug again and that he should stop taking it as well–reasonable advice that we expect that all of us plebes would give Cooper at that time. But I doubt that’s the case. Cooper’s self-loathing hasn’t gotten to the point of needing therapy (that’s debatable, but he at least seemed somewhat functional prior to taking the drug), but he is the everyman here. Wouldn’t it be great to become Superman, to rise above every challenge life throws at us? Wouldn’t it be awesome to be, well, limitless?
The correct answer here is No. Limits define us, limits are meant to be edged and pushed, not removed entirely. With drugs like NZT (or a cape, or a wand, or a radioactive spider bite) we remove that one last shred of humanity that defines us. The only thing that he needs to be able to uncover the Theory of Everything is to simply take more of the drug, to become less and less human and therefore less and less interesting. It was only a matter of time until Cooper thought his way out of every problem, even the mere problems of addiction to the drug and the negative side effects. Why, he hasn’t become merely a superhero, he’s become god. And stories about gods are best kept to mythologies and pulpits, thank you.
The movie might as well be called “The Apotheosis of Bradley Cooper”. The adversity that Cooper faces here (lapping at NZT-infused blood, threats to his life from Russians, the always-intimidating Robert De Niro) are at best a mini-golf course. It’s more disgraceful than actual problems, more things that white blue-bloods would be terrified of experiencing, or better yet, having it socially known that they are experiencing. What about real adversity? What is Bradley Cooper was black, or transgendered, or was blind or deaf, or maybe foreign? What if he was female and hit the glass ceiling with de Niro? I don’t think there’s any drug, legitimate or otherwise, that could help him there. The real message of this movie is “If you get the money (through whatever means, even a dangerous brain-modifying drug) then you’ll get the power. Money makes you, well, limitless.
The Onion AV club put forth a review of Limitless as essentially being a 2-hour commercial for Adderol. I can’t help but agree, and I would add that Adderol would have been needed on my part to maintain my lagging interest in the movie.
Grade: C-
Tags: bradley cooper, cooper, de niro, limitless, movie, movie review, robert de niro
27 Dec 11 Big Dipper – April Showers
Sorry for the extended absence. Lots of things have been happening–promotion at work, our company being acquired, and the holidays. A big post on the New Year’s cards for this year is forthcoming. In the meantime, enjoy this ridiculousness from Chicago-based cub rapper Big Dipper. Hilarious, sexy, and clearly talented.
21 Nov 11 My Thanksgiving Menu
Foolishly, I offered to host Thanksgiving this year, and then remembered that I only have cursory cooking skills (not anywhere on par with my old roommate, Cody). But the family breathed a sigh of relief, and it’s at least easy to get to my house (as compared to my parents’ place).
Here’s the menu:
Turkey, purchased at Trader Joe’s, and pre-brined. I will probably brine it again
Bread-and-celery stuffing
Mashed potatoes
Gravy, made from the turkey drippings and scraps
Yam Casserole with pecans
Green Bean Casserole (the classic on the side of the fried onion cans)
Bread (cheating here, and buying it from Cub)
Pork tenderloin (they cut into nice, tasty medallions)
Pumpkin & mincemeat pie (made by Mom)
We’ll see how this goes. I’m cooking for 10 individuals, and this is going to be an adventure. Photos forthcoming!
Tags: recipes, thanksgiving, turkey
27 Oct 11 Morgog: The story so far…
Morgog Undefeated, the theme from last year. Looted steel armor, bloody wounds and pitch-black eyes.
For the past 4 years, on Halloween, I have gone about as Morgog the Lich. “What’s that?” you say? Permit me to explain.
Halloween is a celebration of mystery, of death, of fear and darkness. It’s also one of my favorite holidays (could you tell), second only to New Year’s. Rather than dress as something sexy or funny or ridiculous, I’ve decided to dress as the one thing I fear the most–death.
Morgog, master of hidden knowledge. Arcane scrolls, potion bottles, and a freshly-rotted look.
A lich is a wizard or sorcerer who has removed their soul from their body for the purposes of becoming immortal. A good example of this in recent literature would be Voldemort from Harry Potter, though in truth there have been stories about mystics and mages who have removed their soul for as nearly long as there has been literature.
Typically, the act of removing one’s soul entails some horrific act (murdering children, betraying your family, etc) and then the creation of a phylactery, or container for the soul. Typically well-guarded and hidden, the phylactery becomes the source of the lich’s power, but also its one and only weakness. Brave adventurers who discover and then destroy the phylactery destroy the lich as well. More on Morgog’s phylactery here shortly.
Morgog is inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s Morgoth, the chief antagonist of his Middle-Earth eschatology. To quote The Silmarillion:
Last of all is set the name of Melkor, He who arises in Might. But that name he has forfeited; and the Noldor, who among the Elves suffered most from his malice, will not utter it, and they name him Morgoth, the Dark Enemy of the World. From splendour he fell through arrogance to contempt for all things save himself, a spirit wasteful and pitiless. Understanding he turned to subtlety in perverting to his own will all that he would use, until he became a liar without shame. He began with the desire of Light, but when he could not possess it for himself alone, he descended through fire and wrath into a great burning, down into Darkness. And darkness he used most in his evil works upon Arda, and filled it with fear for all living things.
Lord of War. Curving black claws, a leather harness, and enfolded robes were the hallmarks here.
In The Silmarillion, Morgoth is analogous to the Christian Lucifer. He was originally gifted with all the knowledge, understanding, and beauty that all of his peers were. But through overweening pride, arrogance and misunderstanding he fell to be the lowest of things, cruel and neglectful of his responsibility. He became enamored or darkness, hatred, betrayal, and fire. But Morgoth himself is, essentially, by his own nature redeemed:
He spoke to Melkor saying that although he is mightiest amongst the Ainur, he could not create or play a theme, which does not first come from Eru, nor can the Music be altered.
In a sense, Morgoth’s own nature is his transgression. And his nature, bestowed by god (here named Eru), has its own source in that from which all good comes as well. It all boils down to that “you can’t have light without darkness”, that very black-and-white system that Tolkien loved. But in saying that even god has a plan for evil, and that evil only brings greater glory to god, Tolkien transcends the simple binary system most see him as promulgating.
Back to Morgog. For 4 years now, I’ve been an evil undead wizard with a hidden phylactery. Every year I have a new theme for Morgog, and every year, I present a clue to where the phylactery is hidden. The first year’s clue was the existence of the phylactery itself (not making this easy). The second year, the clue was that this could be found everywhere, and nowhere. And finally, last year’s clue was that “The Indians invented this first.” Without further ado, this year’s clue is:
It once was before all, but then was made noble.
Best of luck, crafty adventurers. Incidentally, this year’s theme for Morgog is torture–expect barbed wire, electrical tape, seeping wounds and chains!
14 Oct 11 The Snobby Blogger: These are the best blogs ever.
I think everyone knows that I am an avid reader, but I think I’m going to start doing consistent updates in regards to the blogs I have been following for, well, the better part of a year. Each of these blogs stands out for their excellent, broad content and wonderful authors. I present to you, the top 10 blogs I follow on any given day.
MMO Champion
Technically not a blog, this is more of a community site, but something that I check every day. Focused on World of Warcraft, they compile community news, datamine the latest Public Test Realm (the WoW test server), and serve up class, trade, and game secrets. Run by near-Blizzard employee Bouboiuille (interviewed by WoW Insider in 2009), the site is one of my favorites for the sneak previews it gives in upcoming Warcraft content and Blizzard games (all of which I am a big fan).
The Big Picture
Who doesn’t read Big Picture? ….really, who doesn’t?
Pharyngula
One of my all-time favorites, Pharyngula is written by PZ Myers, a professor at my alma mater (UMM). Often incendiary, often ridiculous, but always reasonable and logical, Myers is well-known in the atheist circles as a good friend of Richard Dawkins and often at the forefront of the ‘radical atheist agenda’. His writing style is both clear-cut and wonderfully funny. Plus, he doesn’t forget his roots in biology–every Friday he posts a cephalopod picture, always reminding you that while there is a lot of silliness in the world, there is always something awe-inspiring (…by squid).
(Incidentally, PZ Myers is apparently famous enough to warrant his own enchantingly nasty article on Conservapedia! That only makes him more of a hero in my book.)
Guffaw
Ran by two friends of mine and their brigade of hipster-esque funny-men and women, Guffaw lists both funny blog entries, comedy events, and just general zany fun. Guffaw covered the Minnesota Beard-Off this past year, which I had the fortune of winning in the Freestyle Category.
The Skeptical Juror
Sister Catie got me hooked on reading the CNN Justice section, but their excellent coverage of the Casey Anthony case quickly degenerated into essentially celebrity news. And now, I don’t want to read about celebrity hackers or missing white girls or Amanda Knox. They focus on the biggest cases without actually delving into any of the details–evidence, courtroom experiences, outcomes and details.
Skeptical Juror solves all of this. He dives deeply–very deeply–into case details and essentially acts as a how he expects a juror would on that case. He’s clearly an expert on legal matters, and some of his analysis has even been published into books. I love his work and his focus on the real element of the legal process–justice.
This Is My Next
Focused on technology and tech buzz, the latest gadgets and widgets, and interesting news and articles. This has been billed as their temporary home, but I am hoping that this site either becomes permanent or is strongly integrated into the author’s next project.
Catalog Living
As someone who did not grow up with the tomfoolery of Better Homes & Gardens and Good Housekeeping strewn about the house (our coffee table had Tolkien, Salinger, Lewis, Brontë, etc…), I find these pictures hilarious. Especially as someone whose house is essentially the opposite of a catalog and who relies more on “This rearrangement will look fun!”.
Three Pound Brain
I revere R. Scott Bakker as an author, and for his incredibly complex and beautiful trilogy of trilogies (The Prince of Nothing, The Aspect-Emperor, and The Trilogy That Shall Not Be Named). They have, in very short order, become a favorite of mine for their level of detail, treatment of philosophy, epistemology and religion, and for their kickass sorcerers and wizards, who sing to cast their incredibly powerful spells.
Bakker also has a very wry sense of humor, as evidenced by my favorite post of his this year: Questions to Fuck Up Your English Professor.
We Got Served
Being a lover of food and vaguely incapable of cooking good food for one person, We Got Served is typically where I go when I want to learn about something new to experience, food-wise, in the Twin Cities. And they cover everything–cost, drinks to eat with the meal, appetizers, and everything from fancy to street vendors. It’s a bad, bad idea to look at this blog when you are hungry and/or between grocery cycles (when you only have rations like EasyMac or leftovers in your fridge).
Some of my favorite recent articles have also introduced me to new dishes and experiences at places I know and love, like 128 Cafe or Bad Waitress or Black Forest Inn. I thought I had tried essentially everything on the Bad Waitress menu, but a chorizo sausage, bacon, and cheddar cheese burrito never made its way to my table…yuummmmm!
Mac Wilson at the Current
Call me biased, but Mac and I went to college together at UMM, and now I find myself listening to his show every weekend and following his music recommendations online. I used to be fairly active and continually publish my iPod playlist every month, but since having transitioned to Google Music and long having lost my good connection to tons of music at Best Buy, I’ve fallen off the path. So now I follow Mac and his excellent recommendations! His latest articles cover a bunch of my new favorites–Hot Chip, Girls, and Middle Class Rut.
Recruiting Geek’s Blog
It’s always good to keep up-to-date on your company’s leadership, especially when they write and make it public online. Doug Berg (and I think other elements at Jobs2Web) handle this excellent online blog focused on the geeky aspects of recruiting–namely, data, analytics, metrics and measurement. More often than not I listen to these competitors and analysts who talk about recruiting online but never bring up the numbers–namely, the data! I like how our company focuses on the unambiguous, scientific, measurable results that good online recruiting can bring.
As I’ve
Tags: big picture, blogs, catalog living, jobs2web, pharyngula, skeptical juror, the Current, world of warcraft
07 Oct 11 Movie Review: Captain America
New Hope, Minnesota (disparagingly referred to as ‘No Hope’) is where I found myself Friday night when Taften took me out to dinner. We’ve both been wanting to geek out and go see Captain America since we first started dating, and I earned this by baking him a pecan pie on Wednesday and bringing it to him before his night shift. So we bummed over to the New Hope Cinema Grill, which touts itself as a weird fusion of both movie theater and restaurant.
Before I rip into Captain America, permit me to expound upon this idea a bit more.
Food is an integral process of entertainment. But the usual fair–popcorn, pop, and candy–rarely has the same impact that options like pizza, burgers, fries, sanndwiches do. While none of these options are particularly healthy (I now see the economic niche for natural/organic/vegan restaurant/movie theaters), it seems completely logical that a fed customer is a happy customer, and more apt to be entertained by a two hour movie.
When I looked at the menu and saw that they even offered Surly beer, a favorite local brew, I was shocked. Why, my dears, I might now even be able to balance out terrible movies with delicious local beer and cheesy, meaty pizza! They had cheese curds on the menu! With such dishes on a menu in front of me in the movie theater, I thought I should have had this when I saw, say, Sex and the City 2 or Thor.
To clarify: even with food and good beer, I cannot enjoy movies like Captain America.
Problem One: This is not a movie, it’s a prequel. Marvel has very publicly touted their Avengers movie, which ties in their Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and now Captain America series into one movie. As such this movie already clears up a lot of the plot points: Captain America survives and is never in any real danger, yes we all know who wins World War II, and yes we get there was some weird occult stuff going on there too. Not enough to create energy weapons and genetically engineered superheroes, but yes there was an undercurrent–I digress.
Damn you so serious girl.
Problem Two: This is not an action movie, it’s a <romance><character drama><comic book movie>. The movie suffered from a lack of direction. Is this scene focusing on his love interest? Oh, OK, so you’re trying to appeal to young women a bit. Now we’re focused on his overly developed sense of justice (straight from the streets of Brooklyn!), so this is trying to focus on the comic book angle. Oh, but look, he has brothers-in-arms in World War II, some of whom are of different races and obvious credos. This must be a dramatic scene.
Plus there were lots of things to draw your attention elsewhere. Oooh, his last name is Stark, I think I secretly understand the connection the Iron Man! Oooh, the tesseract is hidden in an old Norse-style church building, and Odin is mentioned, clearly this has some underhanded connection to Thor! In general, there was a lot going on, and not enough action. Where were the feats of unbelievable strength and power?
Problem Three: Do military-themed superhero movies do well in wartime? I could only imagine the incredible irony of the invincible Captain America fighting next to other soldiers. What is their opinion that he has great equipment and biological super-strength? How can the military justify the expenditure for this one soldier and not the others? Furthermore, how can anyone actually sit and watch this silliness while an actual war is going on, one that’s not exactly as clear-cut and black-and-white as what’s portrayed in Captain America?
I wasn’t impressed. Lack of direction, poor acting, and the clear fact that this movie is a setup into yet another B-class Marvel movie left me less than impressed. As I munched on the final pieces of pizza and drained my beer, I decided that as a critic, I’d be just as entertained watching randoms at a bar, or sitting and watching a sports game.
Grade: C-
06 Sep 11 Local Natives – Airplanes
Local Natives may be the best thing to happen to me musically since Efterklang. Though suffering from the problem of looking like all other indie bands these days (namely, needing a shower, a shave, and a laundering), they are sound-rich and crystal-clear. Fitting for such a romantic weekend. I feel like the cool weather is waking me up from a long, troubling summer.
Tags: airplanes, local natives, music, the Current
