I’m taking this as a sign that I would be a good parent. Because I still have my parent’s set (and it goes away after we’ve been drinking, we’re not stupid)
You can tell the haters are really reaching for straws, when they’re attacking random swaths of all kinds of people: for adopting children. And just remember, NOM is a certified hate group, hopefully this will make some other people notice.
So, my thoughts on the new pope: it’s awesome that he took the name Francis, as he’s one of my favorite saints. Also cool that he’s a Jesuit, although I think that I always heard they had the sterotype of buying lots of land and making lots of money, which is the opposite of Pope Francis, who rode the bus to work! Now, just like the other 114 cardinals, he still hates the LGBT community, women and you know, anyone who’s different, not that I expected anything different though. More importantly, the new Archbishop of Caneterbury is enthroned on Thursday!
Because adding Batman is awesome:
E. L. James, the “author” of 50 Shades of Grey, is publishing a writing guide. Excuse me as I go throw up.
Awesome note from a dad to his son. It popped up in my newsfeed at work and I teared up a little bit:
This of course, comes after Rob Portman, sitting Senator from Ohio comes out for Marriage Equality. You know, when it affects his son. Yes, we’re happy that he’s supporting equality, but you should be able to see the need for equal rights without it personally affecting your immediate family.
Sooooooo, at the big conservative political gathering last week, there was a real life, true racist walking around. Now to be fair, there are crazy people everywhere, but it’s fun to point this out.
I’ve been cleaning out my e-mail, so here’s some gems hiding in there:
Aside from the fact that you don’t dive on oxygen, which is repeated a lot through this article, it’s pretty cool to see painting underwater. FYI, tanks are either compressed air, or Nitrox, a blend of air and nitrogen.
Slate put up an editorial, by one of my favorite writers no less, about single versus double spaces after the terminal punctuation in a sentence.
He wrote, very passionately (which is why I like his writing), about the fact that we should never use the double space. He has no evidence however, just his own preference. In fact, even this sentence is included:
Typographers can point to no studies or any other evidence proving that single spaces improve readability.
That’s fine if that is your preference, many copy editors and manuals of style will have their own preference. I always say that it’s better to consistent. than anything else really.
My preference is a double space, but I’ve written for organizations that used single space, and changed my typing accordingly. I feel that a double space after a sentence lends itself better when reading text out loud, cuing the speaker to breath and leave a longer pause than after a comma. I also find it easier when skimming a book, usually for the third or fourth time, looking for a specific quote, a double space helps me search faster.
But again, just go for consistency, let the professional typographers sort it out when you get a book published. Otherwise, just listen to your current editor.
Well I’m back. Well I never really left, so here’s a giant update for everyone, enjoy!
I somehow missed this commercial the first time around, and I really like it:
For all the music folk out there, Slate has a cool article about playing in tune. I remember going to a concert of Catham Baroque in College, they had major issues because where they were performing was a cold space, except the floor was heated. It wreaked havoc on all their instruments.
Also in Slate, an article about the AP Styleguide and how changes are made. I need a new one, I’ll have to check out their store to see if the 2010 version is available.
And again in Slate, a cool article about PowerPoint. It can be awesome, it really can be, just don’t do what most people do!
The first part of Star Wars Uncut is up. The project brings people from all over the world to do small segments of A New Hope and then splices them together:
Also, I’ve watched this video a couple times, and it’s amazing, an Octopus steals a diver’s camera while it is still on. The diver chases and finally gets it back:
Want to know what kind of hell happens to your mind when you stay inside a Wal Mart for 24 straight hours? Read the hilarious report here:
An employee yelled “Shut up!” to me after I stood in the middle of the lingerie section and screamed “Spring Break!” at the top of my lungs.
I know it’s over, but I meant to post this while the contest was going on, but this Lost video was made by a local guy. It didn’t end up winning, although when I watched all of the finalists, I really liked it the best:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiKABfaQsbY
Ok, some more about Lost. Here are the characters are summarized by cats:
There was a theory that the eruption and subsequent ash cloud of Mt. Eyjafjallajokull would cool us down a bit, or maybe even stave off summer. Sadly, it’s been warm here. Read the article here, and I’ll be glad that my friend Kyle was finally able to make it back from Europe after all kinds of delays getting there (and the possibility of becoming stuck)
NASA captured this amazing photo of clouds over Africa:
I fully realize that this would probably clog anyone’s arteries in about three seconds after putting the first bit in your mouth, but it still looks really good: pancake, cheesecake, pancake, strawberries whipped cream. I’m assuming the strawberries make it healthy, right?
Maybe the national media wouldn’t be blindsided by things like Arizona’s new anti-immigration law or Virginia’s racially tone deaf governor if it took attacks on gays and lesbians seriously, if the media saw them for the outliers they are, and stopped giving politicians like Brewer and McDonnell a faith-based pass when they attack sexual minorities. Because governors and legislators who attack sexual minorities today invariably go on to attack other minority groups tomorrow. Hate is hate is hate.
Leviticus 19:33-34 (NIV) When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt.
Moral of this story, don’t celebrate a win before the game is over:
Aussies are safer in a strip club than a church, suggests new government data. According to the latest figures compiled by the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 1600 people were charged with committing a range of 27 offences in the state’s “places of worship” in 2008. Astonishingly, the data showed only 282 people were charged with the same offences in adult entertainment premises.
I think I have a new favorite blog, it’s called The Big Caption, bringing together images and typography
I’m angry at Arizona for so many things, including their ban on willingly creating a human/animal hybrid (How will I amass my Centaur army now?!), but this is always heartbreaking, Arizona is now firing or moving teachers that don’t speak English properly, which makes sense to me (granted, how they frame that bill and everything associate with it was kind of underhanded), but I’d like to bring attention to what ope of the Secretary of Education’s advisers said:
Teachers should speak good grammar because kids pick up what they hear
And thanks to Jezebel for putting together this awesome guide to traveling in Arizona:
Thank you, that is all.
Ok, it’s cool, but the bicycle wheel is just showing off:
This ad is awesome, one because it’s the first motion-sensitive billboard that I’ve seen, and second, the format works great for the venue. A coworker of mine is in D.C. this weekend and even though I’ve never been there, I recommended the Spy Museum, I’ve only heard people rave about it, next time I’m down in Washington, I’ll have to check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc1FeR54F-Y
Just because it’s funny:
I don’t want to say I told you so. But I told you so (well, at least maybe).
Student newspapers at private schools are sticky business, I should know. From where I stand, the school is in the clear to do this. Should they? Well that is another matter entirely. My heart goes out to the writers and editors, I know how hard it can be, without the administration threatening the jobs of faculty members (good grief).
Panera is testing a “pay what you think it’s worth” store, and if it works (the money goes to charity), will open more. It’s fun, since I’m writing this in a Panera. With moronic teenage girls running the bakery counter. I’ve heard them argue about the unfairness of driving, and how they are stapling napkins. I’m not sure why either.
Ever want to know how the stop sign was created? Slate investigates here. And here’s what would happen if a corporation had been charged with making it:
And Slate takes a look at this year’s Clio Awards.
This is amazing, and the first building reminds me of Myst Island. I know, huge nerd, but we all knew that, didn’t we?
I’ve always wondered how many people have lived on Earth, in total, since you know, we started. Someone finally figured it out! Over 106 Billion. That’s a lot!
A fun clip from the Daily Show, my favorite part, “It turns out the people in the White house are not secret Muslims, they’re nerds!”
Inspired by a case in Florida in 2007 (I think), Obama extended the right to same-sex couples to be at the side of their partner in hospitals. This also extends the benefit to friends, such as in cases where there is no family left. Very classy, but a shame it took this long for it to happen.
And one more Daily Show clip, this one is pretty good, I love the yelling:
I posted the Spiderman version a little bit ago, now, what if Wes Anderson directed the Lord of the Rings? Spiderman seemed more like The Royal Tennenbaums, this one seems more like The Darjeeling Limited:
This is probably the best thought out computer virus I’ve ever heard of. It steals your temporary files and web browsing history (presumably also including passwords to things like banking sites and e-mail) and publishes them online, charging you about $20 to remove them. Awesome. Now I’m just waiting for karma to strike me.
Listen, this next video is strange, and probably crosses the line. Why am I posting it? Because it’s an interesting take on TV ads, as well as a neat execution. It’s from a campaign in The Netherlands to promote South Park. That really should tell you all you need to know. The first scene is the worst, but the fact that they get in killing Kenny should be commended. Anyway, you’ve been warned, you probably shouldn’t watch it:
And that’s it for now, have a great one everybody!
I love Fleury, a whole lot. Here’s him and Sid talking about the snow (which I realize is ridiculous on at least three levels, but hey, it’s fun):
Speaking of Fleury and Sid, Olympics! Here’s what Slate suggested you watch if you watch just one thing a day. A really funny read (and I apologize in advance for the tardiness of all the Olympic articles, I got so caught up in the games that I didn’t write about them). And here is their awesome Sap-O-Meter. I’ll give you a hint, NBC is really sappy, and generally, awful at covering the Olympics.
I don’t know what’s going on in this picture, but we are seeing Bob Costas outside of his living room, so it’s got to be a plus. Also, Colbert! Make sure you watch this video that I’m not allowed to embed. Stupid NBC.
Slate also takes a stab at the biathalon. Awesome read, which just helps me galvanize my mindset that it’s a weird sport. I have more respect for it, but it’s weird.
I’m thinking it may not be actually from Verizon, but this is an awesome blend of nostalgia and current technology:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkWKdJF7Md0
This might be one of my new favorite sites, someone watching season six of Lost, who has never seen it. It’s worth it just for the drawings!
And the healthcare debate rages on, it’s a few days old, but still worth a watch. Rachel Maddow is, of course, amazing:
A gut wrenching blog entry over at PG+, if you’re a subscriber, check out the link. If not, consider signing up! And I know I’ve promised to talk about it over at Metblogs, and I still am planning on doing that, I promise!
A great follow up to the video clips I posted before about the phrase “fucking retard.” As in, “Sarah Palin is a fucking retard.”
I’ve been really, really excited about the return of URU. To help you get into the Myst spirit, check out this awesome online fan project – Myst and Riven books! And in related news, over a million people are now playing D&D online, probably because it’s free (with some premium content). Maybe we’ll see a lot of interest in URU! We can only hope!
The Onion does a great job, and maybe humor is what we need in the discussion, but marriage equality is serious. Don’t believe me? Try filing taxes as a same-sex couple.
What is Wes Anderson directed Spider Man? Oh yes:
Cool ad that was apparently really effective, although the price must be really big, and installation I’m sure was a pain:
