Monday, February 23, 2009
Everything but the Kitchen Sink
In perhaps one of my biggest bids to justify my existence, I have released the best Kitchen Sink portable software collection yet. Torrent coming soon.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Five questions for Kevin Smith
Awhile back I was at an event that the amazing Kevin Smith attended and I asked him a question that was already addressed on the DVD he put out. This bothered me and I've been trying to come up with a really good question ever since. Here's my top 5:
1. A lot of people I know were affected by the movie Dogma. I was surprised that it became this cultural touchstone by which I could discuss religion with people who usually didn't. But I'm curious how your religious views over time have changed -- and maybe you could explain that by telling us how you would have done Dogma differently if you had made it right after Clerks (his first movie) like you planned, as well as what it would look like if you made Dogma right now.
2. It seems like you call people "Sir" in a playful way with (friend and co-star) Jason Mews and others. To me, its said in an affectionate way but also implying that we're supposed to be adults, but really we're not. As if we're all just pretending to be adults, when really we're all just a lot of dumb kids. Is that something you consciously thought about or is it sort of something automatic that you just developed?
3. George Lucas started out doing indie film and became a very powerful force in Hollywood. You've been very available to playing in the background and not spending too much money in any direction, knowing that will keep you in movies for years to come. But if you had a breakout hit that put you in the top spot in your industry, what would you push the industry to do differently? Put another way: what sucks about movies right now that someone aught to fix? What if it was you?
4. You interviewed Bruce Willis recently and this was the first time I felt like you might almost be a little starstruck. What caught me about this is that you're a Hollywood director who's had some very big names in his movies and yet you're so down-to-earth. Your art is filled with referees to people overcompensating, while you are so straightforward. Almost every interview, you discuss things so normally, like we're your neighbor and you're telling us a funny story about our other neighbor's dog. How is it your characters are so delusional while you're so clear-headed?
5. As a natural storyteller, who impresses you lately as a storyteller (in any medium) and have you drawn any inspiration from them?
1. A lot of people I know were affected by the movie Dogma. I was surprised that it became this cultural touchstone by which I could discuss religion with people who usually didn't. But I'm curious how your religious views over time have changed -- and maybe you could explain that by telling us how you would have done Dogma differently if you had made it right after Clerks (his first movie) like you planned, as well as what it would look like if you made Dogma right now.
2. It seems like you call people "Sir" in a playful way with (friend and co-star) Jason Mews and others. To me, its said in an affectionate way but also implying that we're supposed to be adults, but really we're not. As if we're all just pretending to be adults, when really we're all just a lot of dumb kids. Is that something you consciously thought about or is it sort of something automatic that you just developed?
3. George Lucas started out doing indie film and became a very powerful force in Hollywood. You've been very available to playing in the background and not spending too much money in any direction, knowing that will keep you in movies for years to come. But if you had a breakout hit that put you in the top spot in your industry, what would you push the industry to do differently? Put another way: what sucks about movies right now that someone aught to fix? What if it was you?
4. You interviewed Bruce Willis recently and this was the first time I felt like you might almost be a little starstruck. What caught me about this is that you're a Hollywood director who's had some very big names in his movies and yet you're so down-to-earth. Your art is filled with referees to people overcompensating, while you are so straightforward. Almost every interview, you discuss things so normally, like we're your neighbor and you're telling us a funny story about our other neighbor's dog. How is it your characters are so delusional while you're so clear-headed?
5. As a natural storyteller, who impresses you lately as a storyteller (in any medium) and have you drawn any inspiration from them?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
When language becomes meaningless
Following up on this piece by the geniuses of public relations: a bullshit generator.
My favorite so far: "implement impactful convergence"
Update: seems someone came up with a website made up entirely by this type of tool.
My favorite so far: "implement impactful convergence"
Update: seems someone came up with a website made up entirely by this type of tool.
Monday, February 16, 2009
GWB vs. History - revised
In a followup to calling former President George W. Bush "worst president ever," an article by the Associated Press uses a more scientific method to rate W 36 out of 42 by a poll of historians. Although not the worst, it seems almost satirical to describe him as the best. The article better embraces his effectiveness in a crisis immediately after the 9/11 attacks, which were lauded worldwide.
The article also points out that current events do affect historical viewpoints, but it doesn't look like history has a chance to vindicate this president, as so many have suggested.
The article also points out that current events do affect historical viewpoints, but it doesn't look like history has a chance to vindicate this president, as so many have suggested.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Niether Christ nor the Antichrist are white?
Who else saw this coming? Barack Obama is the antichrist! First line on the page:
"I DO NOT BELIEVE HE IS."Oh come on -- he totally is! Haven't you seen his jumpshot? Its way too perfect.
What to do about the economy?
In a strong case for the current stimulus, John Stewart talks to John Sununu about the economic recovery and the recent Republican focus on taxes, pointing out that the last 8 years have been about reducing taxes to stimulate the economy and that's what got us where we are now.
Additionally, Republican lawmakers including John McCain complaining that our children must pay this debt seems hypocritical as a Republican-controlled federal government who, for the last 8 years, reduced taxes while spending more.
Still, even with a line of thinking that seems to favor the current stimulus package, where does it end? Just because Bush Jr. pushed the deficit to record levels at a record rate, the opposite of this failure is not to spike it higher and faster. Are Americans just numb to this issue? Someone's got to pay for this someday. Someone must kill the level of comfort we all feel with being in debt both personally and nationally.
Is the only advocate I can find for this really "they have been positioning Obama for a long long time" Ron Paul?
Additionally, Republican lawmakers including John McCain complaining that our children must pay this debt seems hypocritical as a Republican-controlled federal government who, for the last 8 years, reduced taxes while spending more.
Still, even with a line of thinking that seems to favor the current stimulus package, where does it end? Just because Bush Jr. pushed the deficit to record levels at a record rate, the opposite of this failure is not to spike it higher and faster. Are Americans just numb to this issue? Someone's got to pay for this someday. Someone must kill the level of comfort we all feel with being in debt both personally and nationally.
Is the only advocate I can find for this really "they have been positioning Obama for a long long time" Ron Paul?
Music: Jazz - Brad Mehldau
This video looks odd but the pianist is pretty obviously a genius. He does a Radiohead cover, getting so many notes wrong, yet getting all of them right. More from Brad.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
If you're going to get kidnapped, be attractive, white, and female
Much better chance the media will give a rat's ass. Not that I don't hope they find the girl in this case, its just that the media only deals with one type of kidnap victim. A recent movie of course taps into this and the villains are of course middle-eastern.
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