Monthly Archives: December 2003

Home for the holidays

Well, didn’t get around to those page updates. Most of it was picture work and I just figured out that I have scanned about 10 times more photos than I have space for. Guess that sorting will have to wait until the new year.

Just in time for the holidays, a story on how current game designers could learn from old games. Wrapping up the year, some other political-type articles on gender politics and how fundamental Protestants refuse to believe we share a deity with Muslims. Figures they don’t know how to share; just look at the tax code.

Being as job hunting is still on my mind, an article on professional gamers. Give me a nice place to live, and yeah, I’d play games all day for money.

In any case, we’re essentially offline for the rest of the year. Have a Merry Christmas folks and we’ll catch in 2004.

Some actual holiday cheer

I realized that a lot of yesterday’s post was depressing. Today I start off with the other extreme of a holiday bonus. Also a story about a soldier that surprised his mom with his release from military service.

Some more fallout from yesterday’s Saddam capture. One story, as told by the troops involved. The other, about the stupid operation name, which I was griping about myself when I heard it.

The Economist came out with an interesting article on the future of slight. Personally, I like the Fifth Element reference that sets it off nicely.

And then there’s this one, which poses the theory that PowerPoint makes us dumb; which, I think we’d all agree with.

Have you seen this jerk?

I woke up this morning and got online, only to be told by a buddy in Singapore to turn on the TV right now! I did, and like most of you got to see the pathetic wasteoid above being probed like a prize cow at the fair.

This, of course, is good news. And while we all get some smug satisfaction out of it, I hope our administration can make the most out of this with other countries. I think we can slap each other on the back and still be somewhat humble about it. As this article states, my brother and probably someone you know still has to go over there are clean up a few messy situations. Let’s just hope not having Saddam around makes that job a lot easier.

Republicans and their toys

You may remember earlier this year when I pointed out that KB Toys was planning on selling George Bush actions figures. Well, there’s apparently a “Top Gun” version too, amongst others. And to make it even worse, psychopathic hate monger Ann Coulter has her own doll. It apparently says some of the same demonic crap Linda Blair said in The Exorcist.

Speaking of clueless people, Saudi Arabia wants the world to pay OPEC subsidies should we ever stop using fossil fuels. Wait a minute…I already have a problem giving money to fundamentalist suicide bombers? You want me to do it on purpose?

How’s this for unfair? Employees at an auto supplier actually got taxed for their holiday bonus. Pathetic.

Speaking of pathetic, some morons decided to coin a phrase called “killographic” to explain violent video games.

Finally, I don’t know what’s worse: the story comparing us all to Paris Hilton or the one that says we are all nerds. Read, then decide for yourself.

Because, apparently, downloading music is a capital offense

In a moment of curiosity, I strolled over to FoxNews and found this little tidbit. To some, hiring a guy from an organization famous for things like Ruby Ridge and Waco is just the right thing to do in order to scare off all the 12-year old girls and old ladies who supposedly are the software pirates destroying our society. I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want to see is RIAA assualt teams breaking into little 10-year old Jimmy’s room because he wanted to get a song from his favorite artist.

Another genius is suing to teach his daughter about the joys of polygamy. Okay, let’s work this through. LDS members who want to be polygamists are not actual Mormons. People who kill abortion doctors are not Christians. Al Qaeda members are not Muslims. You are all freaks and need to leave our planet. Are we all clear on this now?

Our troops are trying out some new strategies in Iraq. Let’s hope this calms things down and gets some order in that country.

Its not all bad news. In Seattle, you can expect to find your cabbie dressed as an Elvis impersonator, among other things. Slate is carrying a story about the guy who did all the background music for Looney Tunes. This year’s total cost for the 12 Days of Christmas has been calculated. And here is a site about a guy who loves New York and Lego sets. And he loves them a lot.

Variations on a theme

Before I go into my usual thing, I wanted to bring up a site for ya if you have some spare cash. The gamers over at Penny Arcade have put up a site called Child’s Play. Their goal is to get a bunch of toys and books purchased for the Seattle Children’s Hospital and to let people know that gamers aren’t a bunch of anti-social thugs. Head to the site, check it all out and get a toy for a child if you wish.

Can’t say I’ve necessarily been busy this past week or so, but time just flies by somehow. Anyway, it hasn’t been for lack of stuff to point and laugh at. Let’s begin:

You pretty much can figure out what I think our own current presidential administration. So it will be no surprise to you when Evil Ned sent us some instructions about Google and I laughed and laughed. Go to Google, type in the phrase “Miserable Failure” and click the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button. Basically that button leads to the most referenced and linked site related to your search term. In this case, its due to a Richard Gephardt quote and website. Not that I’ve woken up and become a Gephardt fan, but hey, it sure is a sign that we’ve got a presidential election coming, right?

Speaking of negative advertising, the GOP has already gone and starting calling anyone who questioned whether or not we should have gone into Iraq a “traitor”. Yes, that’s right, its now apparently treasonous behavior to even question your government’s motives. This from the same pack of imbeciles who want to replace FDR on the dime with Reagan. Last I checked, the whole country hadn’t become the Republican party.

Speaking of a bad combination of liberal political correctness and conservative “family values” nonsense, we have the following about a boy suspended from school for talking about his gay mom.

And now, idiots on parade. A Kansas couple gets too into the heat of the moment. Mind your tongue. Bubba lives in Illinois. A teacher ruins it for the kids.

Payback time. A backlash on the whole LA county “master/slave” thing from the tech-focused cartoon User Friendly. An in-yer-face response to the Britney Spears Hollywood star thing – give one to Alice Cooper as well. And just because I love the idea of public humiliation for low-lifes, Maine is putting up a website for all its registered child molestors so everyone can recognize those two-legged scumbags wherever they go.

Some leftovers for ya, being that time of year and all. How to spend $25,000 (AU) researching toast. A piece of technology the president can’t even operate is being tested for the battlefield. Plus, the return of Space Invaders.