I've missed so much, between trying to rev up my ComicMix participation again and my surprise euphemism and of course the job hunt. There was the International Bloggers' Day for Burma, Shakesville's third blogiversary (yep, they're still at the Shakespeare's Sister site), the 50th anniverary of Sputnik, and probably a lot more stuff I don't even know about. Oh well, at least I haven't missed International Cephalopod Awareness Day. Besides, I'm finally done with blog catch-up and am hoping to get up to speed, and no time like the present:
• Wow, I can't believe that, as I type this, three out of the four Major League Baseball division series are over already, decided by a 3-games-to-none margin. That was quick! It was also somewhat unfair, as Linkmeister points out: "If you don't have or can't afford cable, too bad. If your cable outlet doesn't have [TBS or TNT], too bad. If those channels are not included in your basic cable, too bad. Cough up." I well remember what it was like living in The Land That Cable Forgot. Bad form, MLB. And by the way, TBS? Yes, spiffy graphics, but your camera work sucks and your play-by-play puts me to sleep.
• Wil's enthusiasm is infectious. I often feel that way about my blogging and other writing.
• Via Michael Ruhlman, his buddy Tony Bourdain has been blogging this past season of Top Chef, a show I was almost tempted to watch due to his write-ups. I think I gave an episode about 15 minutes or so, and I just didn't like it. Not a surprise, I don't like most reality shows, they seem to be far more about humiliating people and elimination rounds than about achievement. Based on Ruhlman's preview of The Next Iron Chef, though, I'm hoping for better with that one (which I'm DVR'ing 'cause, you know, the last Yankees game is on). Also because I just like Alton Brown, with whom Ed Levine has a mini-interview here. Will any of the contestants use these cool knives? Probably not as they don't really exist (but should).
• My ComicMix colleague John Ostrander pays tribute to Del Close, Val D'Orazio makes a case for reboots, Lance Mannion makes the case against how David Eick presents female characters, and Bully says, FOOM, I'm gonna live forever! And speaking of foom-- er, fame, probably everyone has read Stephen Fry's amazingly long and insightful essay about it by now, but I'm going to link to it anyway because it's bloody brilliant.
• Did you know that David Malki based this Wondermark strip on a real (and very creepy) story? What makes someone do that? Perhaps a misplaced desire for fame? Tania Head should have read Stephen Fry's essay.
• A couple of great Kate Harding posts again, one on a couple of assumed-fatphobic studies actually recommending sick and pregnant folks should lose weight!, and on some idiot's ditzy response to the marvelous Dawn French, whose strange premonition I hope has no bearing on reality as I want to see her around for a long time. And yeah, Liss does look like her, doesn't she? Speaking of which, read the absolutely fabulous Ms. McEwan on the stupid Obama lapel pin "controversy" (come on, he's actually being criticized for no longer going along with a herd mentality of fake patriotism? what's next, those of us with no yellow ribbons on our car will face fines?), on women as the sum of their empowered body parts, on having a ticket to snide, and on putting the blame for rape squarely where it belongs.
• We just finished watching the massive Ken Burns' documentary The War (I couldn't watch the Holocaust pictures any more now than I could since I was forced to back in yeshiva), and I'm still reeling from its scope. Really amazing and highly recommended. Would that the fascism fought in that "necessary war" were indeed a thing of the past, but alas it's not. And Avedon reminds us we need to keep calling it what it is, not be afraid to point out when it rears its ugly head in modern times (and right now that means the radical reactionaries currently in power).
• Over at the Group News Blog, Sara celebrates men in kilts and Lower Manhattanite reaffirms our freedom to be a-holes, and to be ridiculed for same. Also, you did read Lower Manhattanite's follow-up to his "For What It's Worth" post, yes? Every bit as powerful.
• Speaking of which, sure, John Mellencamp can write a catchy and meaningful tune, but it's no Like A Windshield Cowboy. And talking of humor, I totally agree with Holden that his "Your President Speaks" posts are exceedingly funny; I kinda wish they weren't.
• Lastly, I just adored this post about Bethany and her Bethie Bags. What a hero.
Oop, my DVR is about to record two shows at once, neither of which is baseball. Time to relocate to the bedroom...
• Wow, I can't believe that, as I type this, three out of the four Major League Baseball division series are over already, decided by a 3-games-to-none margin. That was quick! It was also somewhat unfair, as Linkmeister points out: "If you don't have or can't afford cable, too bad. If your cable outlet doesn't have [TBS or TNT], too bad. If those channels are not included in your basic cable, too bad. Cough up." I well remember what it was like living in The Land That Cable Forgot. Bad form, MLB. And by the way, TBS? Yes, spiffy graphics, but your camera work sucks and your play-by-play puts me to sleep.
• Wil's enthusiasm is infectious. I often feel that way about my blogging and other writing.
• Via Michael Ruhlman, his buddy Tony Bourdain has been blogging this past season of Top Chef, a show I was almost tempted to watch due to his write-ups. I think I gave an episode about 15 minutes or so, and I just didn't like it. Not a surprise, I don't like most reality shows, they seem to be far more about humiliating people and elimination rounds than about achievement. Based on Ruhlman's preview of The Next Iron Chef, though, I'm hoping for better with that one (which I'm DVR'ing 'cause, you know, the last Yankees game is on). Also because I just like Alton Brown, with whom Ed Levine has a mini-interview here. Will any of the contestants use these cool knives? Probably not as they don't really exist (but should).
• My ComicMix colleague John Ostrander pays tribute to Del Close, Val D'Orazio makes a case for reboots, Lance Mannion makes the case against how David Eick presents female characters, and Bully says, FOOM, I'm gonna live forever! And speaking of foom-- er, fame, probably everyone has read Stephen Fry's amazingly long and insightful essay about it by now, but I'm going to link to it anyway because it's bloody brilliant.
• Did you know that David Malki based this Wondermark strip on a real (and very creepy) story? What makes someone do that? Perhaps a misplaced desire for fame? Tania Head should have read Stephen Fry's essay.
• A couple of great Kate Harding posts again, one on a couple of assumed-fatphobic studies actually recommending sick and pregnant folks should lose weight!, and on some idiot's ditzy response to the marvelous Dawn French, whose strange premonition I hope has no bearing on reality as I want to see her around for a long time. And yeah, Liss does look like her, doesn't she? Speaking of which, read the absolutely fabulous Ms. McEwan on the stupid Obama lapel pin "controversy" (come on, he's actually being criticized for no longer going along with a herd mentality of fake patriotism? what's next, those of us with no yellow ribbons on our car will face fines?), on women as the sum of their empowered body parts, on having a ticket to snide, and on putting the blame for rape squarely where it belongs.
• We just finished watching the massive Ken Burns' documentary The War (I couldn't watch the Holocaust pictures any more now than I could since I was forced to back in yeshiva), and I'm still reeling from its scope. Really amazing and highly recommended. Would that the fascism fought in that "necessary war" were indeed a thing of the past, but alas it's not. And Avedon reminds us we need to keep calling it what it is, not be afraid to point out when it rears its ugly head in modern times (and right now that means the radical reactionaries currently in power).
• Over at the Group News Blog, Sara celebrates men in kilts and Lower Manhattanite reaffirms our freedom to be a-holes, and to be ridiculed for same. Also, you did read Lower Manhattanite's follow-up to his "For What It's Worth" post, yes? Every bit as powerful.
• Speaking of which, sure, John Mellencamp can write a catchy and meaningful tune, but it's no Like A Windshield Cowboy. And talking of humor, I totally agree with Holden that his "Your President Speaks" posts are exceedingly funny; I kinda wish they weren't.
• Lastly, I just adored this post about Bethany and her Bethie Bags. What a hero.
Oop, my DVR is about to record two shows at once, neither of which is baseball. Time to relocate to the bedroom...
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