McCain/Irony '08

I created a facebook group today. It's called McCain/Irony '08.

Here's a photo I made for it.



Here's the text from the group's description.

This group is dedicated to documenting the supreme love of irony John McCain has shown in his bid for the presidency.

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Some examples of John McCain's delicious sense of irony:

McCain is married to a corporate heiress and owns seven houses, yet he chides Obama for being an out-of-touch elitist. Obama, meanwhile, was raised by a single-mother (sometimes on food stamps) and wouldn't even qualify as rich today by McCain's own standard (over $5,000,000 a year).

-Well played, John.

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McCain uses the slogan "Country First." Yet in his pick for Vice President, he blatantly pandered to a specific demographic, showing more of an interest in electioneering than governing. Obama, however, picked someone who, while he didn't electrify pundits and commentators, is clearly qualified to be Vice President.

-Oh, that is wicked!

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McCain has accused of Obama running on celebrity, when McCain's own career has been built on the cornerstone of being a famous war hero.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAi2cJZSLvo

-Oh, I see what you did there.

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McCain insists that Obama is all talk and no substance. Meanwhile, newspaper headlines are showing the concrete results of McCain's prefered financial policies and he insists that he'll reform the very system he helped implement.

-He's the master. You got me again, McCain!

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The Republican National Convention was a smorgasbord of irony, as McCain received exuberant cheers for supposedly fighting against the very people who were exuberantly cheering. His speech could be summarized thusly:

"I'm going to go change the way they do business in Washington, where I've done business for 26 years, and tell my colleagues, who I've consistently agreed and voted with, that I won't put up with our way of doing things anymore"

-Vonnegut Smonnegut! If he was any more ironic, we'd start to think he was serious!

Think Tinker

I am brilliant!

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Two hilariously outdated films posted in one day?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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