It's the sleeves, what does it.

Two hilariously outdated films posted in one day? Ooh! Swish!



The narrator does accurately predict portable phones and music players for men. Sadly, looking like Don Quixote in a spaceman suit has yet to become the social norm.

Few Blind People Join Nudist Colonies

This "outstanding news reporter" is really obsessed with porno. Someone should tell him he has a problem.

"I whispered it to you during the movie."

My new favorite film critics.

Stripped Down Nude

somehow, i imagine this made thom yorke proud.


Big Ideas (don't get any) from James Houston on Vimeo.

One Two Three Shoot!

The other day, my improv group had a fantastic workshop rehearsal with a notable Chicago improvisor. The improv scene here is very much an incestuous subculture, so most people wouldn't recognize his name if mentioned. It's at times disheartening to think that the people who have achieved the dizzying heights of improv success that I hope to reach one day aren't millionaire celebrities. They're just really hilarious, artistic individuals living and working in Chicago. And I'm pretty much okay with that. Plus if I'm ever feeling as though I'm wasting my life, there are activities much farther on the fringe

Take the World RPS Society. It's an organization devoted to the cultural sustainment of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Apparently advanced RPS players have tournaments, coaches, strategies, girlfriends, judges, etc.* just like in any other sport!

(Quick note about coaches: the World RPS Society suggests that when choosing a trainer you should "beware of charlatans" who have "never been either a competitor or referee and have no qualifications to speak of." The legit coaches are totally worth the money though!)

As anyone who's spent a few minutes perusing the WRPSS website knows, the biggest advance to ever hit the RPS world is the Gambit. RPS matches are officially played in best 2 of out 3 scenarios and Gambits are predetermined combinations a player can throw. Below are a sample of my favorites.

"A subtle, yet aggressive Gambit. It was the first of the Triple Gambits developed in the early 1890s. The Avalanche is a relentless and devastating offensive maneuver, which requires bravado bordering on recklessness to execute."

"This move took the 1967 RPS World Championships by surprise and is arguably still one of the great surprise offensive moves. The rapid switch from offensive to defensive play can force an opponent into a vulnerable spot."

"Effective use of the Toolbox requires steady hands and steely nerves. Given the puerile popularity of Rock, this Gambit is not suggested for use against beginners."

And my own addition:

The Titular lays it all out on the table. By simply mimicking the order of the game's name, this Gambit is ingenious in it's obviousness. The quick interplay between offense and defense will confuse your opponent into submission. But only the most skilled players will have the balls to see this move through to its iconic conclusion.

*one of these items is a lie

Tell me what he did, Kevin.

This is awesome!



But it's appeasement! Appeasement! Appeasement! If I keep saying Appeasement! he'll think I know what it means! Appeasement! Appeasement! Appeasement, I say!

Roooooobot!

I have to say this looks promising.



Hmmm, a robot alone on an desolate world is disturbed by a foreign spaceship and in turn discovers his own personal aspirations. Why does that sound so familiar?

I'm not complaining. Pixar taking a page out of Nick Park's book gives me high expectations.

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The Savviest Political Minds of Our Time

As usual, Colbert nails it.



He sums up the electability argument against Obama perfectly:
"But what if everyone voted for someone no one would vote for?"

On its face, it's a ridiculous claim. If she's able to show that Obama is such a weak candidate, then wouldn't that make her inability to beat him all the more embarrassing. If someone is unelectable, why would your solution be to nominate the person who lost to him?

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Pithy Campaign Round-up

For those who took an extra big dose of HiberNol last fall and are just waking from their torpor, Slate provides a clever summary of the 2008 Democratic Primary so far. Never has John Edwards' bid for the Presidency been characterized so accurately.



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Where Credit Is Due

I should add a permanent link to Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish, as I've been stealing a lot of my link's from him. He tends to have the most interesting tangential posts of all the blogs I follow. Here's one that goes to the heart of what I don't like about religion.

http://www.other6.net/

It's a website where people can add "bubbles" that signify God's presence (or meddling) in their lives. Here's a typical example:

"morning phone calls from mom- even when i'm feeling a little alone and tired...my mom never ceases to call and check in on me...helping me to feel a little better about myself :) god bless her."

I don't understand why God gets the credit for Mom's thoughtful phone calls. Why can't this person just thank his/her mom? Isn't that enough? A mother's love isn't meaningful unless a spiritual entity dialed the number?

Here's another example of misplaced sentiment:

"getting healthy- i've been working on trying to get healthier and i am starting to feel better. thank you god."

Don't thank God. Thank yourself! Or thank the people that gave you support along the way.

It's frustrating that there's all this praise and good will being directed toward an unseen, intangible idea of God. I can't help but think that concentrating that love on ourselves and the people around us would have a more practical impact. People are willing to suspend their disbelief in order to think that God is capable of anything. He can heal the wounded, inspire love and kindness, control the weather, make business meeting go well. But where is the similarly unfailing trust in the abilities of humans? Ok, we can't control the weather, yet... But thanking God for a sunny day is pretty ridiculous, since it implies that he's also responsible for the string of shitty days preceding it.

A final example:

"On Jones Mountain, where its ridgeline cut the sky- Explain God? Can't do it. Experience God? Just open your eyes."

This is a common way to chronicle the existence of God. Co-opt natural beauty as proof of God's presence. The phrase "just open your eyes" is misleading. It should read "just open your eyes where there is a perfect romanticized view of the natural world and no evidence of negative human behavior." Because keeping your eyes open the rest of time might start you wondering why God is putting all of his energy into creating pretty sunsets when there's a lot of suffering going on. It's interesting that none of the bubbles on this site mention anything negative. It's all flowers, sunshine, phone calls from loved ones and comforting sentiments. And that's fine. It's good to focus on the positive. But when everything noble and beautiful is credited to divine providence, then all that's left as a testiment to human responsibility is the shitty stuff. How can we start to forgive ourselves for all the wrong in the world, when all the right gets lumped into His good works?

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