Friday, September 24, 2010
Best way to get your news? Taiwan's NMA...
I'd like to take a moment to fully express my admiration for the Taiwanese animators at Next Media Animation who create news segments like the one below, but I’ve been captivated by their work since they made a splash last year with their reportage of Tiger Woods. Using the most basic CG models and animation style, they’ve developed a take no prisoners series of animated political cartoons with a sharp outsider’s point of view on American and global politics. The joy of tea partying as seen by NMA: (note the O'Donnell character stopping the young man from literally choking the chicken, classic)
Looking beyond the simplistic, crudely rendered animation, there is plenty of creativity evident in their work. They pepper their films with such imagery as to make them gloriously funny in any tongue, and they take storytelling liberties that are possible only in a graphic medium like animation. Their ability to stay timely and funny makes their video's a must see for those who wish to stay informed on world events.
See also the Tiger Woods video that first piqued my interest:
Looking beyond the simplistic, crudely rendered animation, there is plenty of creativity evident in their work. They pepper their films with such imagery as to make them gloriously funny in any tongue, and they take storytelling liberties that are possible only in a graphic medium like animation. Their ability to stay timely and funny makes their video's a must see for those who wish to stay informed on world events.
See also the Tiger Woods video that first piqued my interest:
Friday, August 06, 2010
Grizzilies= not best representation of family values
Sarah Palin, coiner of famous wordplay, like "hopey, changey" and "refudiate" has made use of the "grizzly mom defending her cubs" symbol as a political tool. Like her RNC convention reference to lipsticked pitbulls, this is supposed to represent a type of hardscrabble tough conservative parenting. A sort of Rambo meets Dr. Spock sensibility. Now, I've never been to Alaska but I do watch some Animal Planet, which gives me a small third-hand knowledge about grizzly bears. (Which is likely more than Sarah Palin has in reality.) The true life of a Mama Grizzly is a lonely one. There is no Papa bear in the picture. No cub knows his father. The cub doesn't even see the outside world until it is old enough to leave the den with it's mother. That would be like humans hibernating during the first eighteen months of a baby's life. Once out the mother grizzly is solely responsible for all aspects of her cubs' feeding and safety. There are no mother grizzly social clubs or bunko groups. (Grizzly moms generally don't have time to whine about tax policy or picket abortion clinics either, but I digress) The preservation of her own offspring is her sole life concern. If they come across a hungry male, he takes one look and thinks, not "cute little versions of me" but "LUNCH!" A lot of cubs are killed this way by rogue males, try as a mother might to protect them. A third to a half of cubs do not survive to maturity. (Has Sarah ever had to stop Todd from eating the kids? Is that where this idea came from?) Grizzly's do nurturing about as well as Marines do sharing their feelings.
So in other words Sarah Palin's ideal for a natural world representation of the family values ethos is a society of lone mothers battling every man and each other for food for their competing offspring; and a return to the rate of child mortality that hasn't been seen since the late nineteenth century. Perhaps a different species might be more appropriate for the "family values" ideal I keep hearing about. Might I suggest penguins? Not only does daddy penguin take his turn on the egg and bring food to the chick, but they mate for life. Or is that just too much commitment for a tea bagger?
Not the greatest symbol for family values
Look a two parent animal family!
So in other words Sarah Palin's ideal for a natural world representation of the family values ethos is a society of lone mothers battling every man and each other for food for their competing offspring; and a return to the rate of child mortality that hasn't been seen since the late nineteenth century. Perhaps a different species might be more appropriate for the "family values" ideal I keep hearing about. Might I suggest penguins? Not only does daddy penguin take his turn on the egg and bring food to the chick, but they mate for life. Or is that just too much commitment for a tea bagger?
Not the greatest symbol for family values Look a two parent animal family!Thursday, July 29, 2010
Mass Transitquette: To bus or not to bus.
Like many others nowadays I am trying to lower my carbon footprint. Not that I think my own meager contributions will greatly forestall the melting of the North Pole, but every bit helps.
Now I often hope that I can make it through the loading of the bus without someone occupying the seat next to me. I'm ambivalent about people sitting next to me, on occasion some interesting conversation can result but mostly it's some jackass tap, tapping away on their blackberry and taking more than their fare share of seat space.
This evening was a most interesting trip as the gentleman next to me had an Archos 5 Internet tablet.
Now I have nothing against someone bringing something to occupy their time on the bus (I myself have been known to bring my PSP), but there should be some common sense displayed when using said device. This guy whips out his tablet and cues up the movie Sin City. Now he'd obviously been watching the movie on the trip in this morning, because the movie started not at the beginning, but at the scene where Mickey Rourke breaks in to Carla Cugino's apartment. So naturally the first thing that my wandering eyes witnessed as they glanced at his screen was the sight of Miss Cugino's lovely breasts.
I being no prude, greatly enjoyed this. But it did make me wonder what might have occurred if he'd sat next to, say, a baptist minister or perhaps one of Sarah Palin's Mama Grizzlies. I'm sure the fireworks would have been breathtaking. In the South the person next to you might always be a fundamentalist lunatic and worse yet they could be armed. So watch with care.
The other mistake he made was his choice of drink. A brown concoction in a Propel bottle that had a bizarre smell. It smelt both sickeningly sweet and yet burnt. It was the scent I'd imagine a beer and chili fart would smell like if emitted by Strawberry Shortcake.
Hmm, next time have a salad
So to this gentleman and all other Clean Air Commuters I offer a few rules for happy commuting.
1. Personal Space is important. If you are more than 250 lbs don't sit next to anyone. Or you'll be crushing them on the glass like Dwight Howard in a Hawks game.
2. Avoid weird food and drink. There is no need for anyone to be eating on the bus, and drinks should be limited to the morning staples, coffee and water. No one wants to smell your exotic energy drink that was brewed by gnomes in Bolivia.
3. If you must talk on your phone do it quietly. No one else gives a shit what you're doing this weekend, or about the CRISIS in your office. If you were that important you wouldn't be on a bus.
4. If someone looks like they don't want to talk to you... they probably don't. I'm sure your kids are brilliant, your sports team is winning and that chinchilla fighting ring you've got in your basement is a rousing success, but I really don't care to hear about it.
Don't be fooled, they'll throw down
5. Try to avoid sleeping on the bus. If you must sleep do not lean on the person next to you. The last thing anyone needs is drool on their shoulder and snoring thundering in their ear because you just had to watch Letterman live.
6. Don't hit the stop requested button on the trip back to the park and ride. The bus is ONLY going to the park and ride, you don't need to remind the driver to stop there... unless of course it's Spencer Pratt.
7. Keep your headphones at a reasonable volume. If I can identify what your listening to, chances are it's too loud. Tinnition is not a good thing.
In short anything that might cause static on transit should be kiboshed. We're all riding together so we all hold each other's fates in our hands. A little consideration goes a long way and will bring good karma to you... and hopefully the planet as well.
Happy Riding!
Now I often hope that I can make it through the loading of the bus without someone occupying the seat next to me. I'm ambivalent about people sitting next to me, on occasion some interesting conversation can result but mostly it's some jackass tap, tapping away on their blackberry and taking more than their fare share of seat space.
This evening was a most interesting trip as the gentleman next to me had an Archos 5 Internet tablet.
Now I have nothing against someone bringing something to occupy their time on the bus (I myself have been known to bring my PSP), but there should be some common sense displayed when using said device. This guy whips out his tablet and cues up the movie Sin City. Now he'd obviously been watching the movie on the trip in this morning, because the movie started not at the beginning, but at the scene where Mickey Rourke breaks in to Carla Cugino's apartment. So naturally the first thing that my wandering eyes witnessed as they glanced at his screen was the sight of Miss Cugino's lovely breasts.
I being no prude, greatly enjoyed this. But it did make me wonder what might have occurred if he'd sat next to, say, a baptist minister or perhaps one of Sarah Palin's Mama Grizzlies. I'm sure the fireworks would have been breathtaking. In the South the person next to you might always be a fundamentalist lunatic and worse yet they could be armed. So watch with care.
The other mistake he made was his choice of drink. A brown concoction in a Propel bottle that had a bizarre smell. It smelt both sickeningly sweet and yet burnt. It was the scent I'd imagine a beer and chili fart would smell like if emitted by Strawberry Shortcake.
Hmm, next time have a saladSo to this gentleman and all other Clean Air Commuters I offer a few rules for happy commuting.
1. Personal Space is important. If you are more than 250 lbs don't sit next to anyone. Or you'll be crushing them on the glass like Dwight Howard in a Hawks game.
2. Avoid weird food and drink. There is no need for anyone to be eating on the bus, and drinks should be limited to the morning staples, coffee and water. No one wants to smell your exotic energy drink that was brewed by gnomes in Bolivia.
3. If you must talk on your phone do it quietly. No one else gives a shit what you're doing this weekend, or about the CRISIS in your office. If you were that important you wouldn't be on a bus.
4. If someone looks like they don't want to talk to you... they probably don't. I'm sure your kids are brilliant, your sports team is winning and that chinchilla fighting ring you've got in your basement is a rousing success, but I really don't care to hear about it.
Don't be fooled, they'll throw down5. Try to avoid sleeping on the bus. If you must sleep do not lean on the person next to you. The last thing anyone needs is drool on their shoulder and snoring thundering in their ear because you just had to watch Letterman live.
6. Don't hit the stop requested button on the trip back to the park and ride. The bus is ONLY going to the park and ride, you don't need to remind the driver to stop there... unless of course it's Spencer Pratt.
7. Keep your headphones at a reasonable volume. If I can identify what your listening to, chances are it's too loud. Tinnition is not a good thing.
In short anything that might cause static on transit should be kiboshed. We're all riding together so we all hold each other's fates in our hands. A little consideration goes a long way and will bring good karma to you... and hopefully the planet as well.
Happy Riding!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Cryptic wisdom now in travel size...
I'm back.... back in the saddle again...
43 days and about 14 hours until Georgia football. Now if only the players can avoid underage drinking, driving in any illegal fashion, hanging out with agents, partying in South Beach, and hanging out with the athletic director(excuse me, former athletic director) we should start the year off right. This season boils down to 2 things: 1. Can Aaron Murray match the good of Joe Cox (over 2500 yards passing, 24 TDs and a 56% completion rate, while avoiding the bad, 17 picks ouch). And 2. Can the Todd Grantham D do things the WillieMart D could not, mainly stop any form of forward pass.
If these questions are answered positively Georgia shall have a very good year.
The Braves are the best team in the National League. They could probably use another bat, especially if Nate McClouth continues to hack like Keanu Reeves in Constantine every time he gets to the plate. Perhaps Jobu could help Nate with the curve ball. But they will likely win the division regardless(too much pitching to fail).
If these questions are answered positively Georgia shall have a very good year.
The Braves are the best team in the National League. They could probably use another bat, especially if Nate McClouth continues to hack like Keanu Reeves in Constantine every time he gets to the plate. Perhaps Jobu could help Nate with the curve ball. But they will likely win the division regardless(too much pitching to fail).
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
An Arlen Spectacle...
Sen. Arlen Specter's decision to leave the Republican Party for the Democrats was greeted by shock, surprise, derision and finally some futile spin by the GOP today. One of the finest examples of the latter was Rep. Jim DeMint's appearence on CNN today. "The Tent of Freedom"? Excuse me while I concur with Rick Sanchez in saying WTF is that?
It is impossible to make the case that this is good news for the GOP. Specter along with the eventual seating of Al Franken will give the Democrats the 60 seats needed to virtually completely shut Republicans out of any significant decision making in Washington. It also is another step along the way of the growing marginalization of a party made up increasingly of conservative activists, old white men, southern evangelicals and little else.
The reality of Specter's move is about one thing and one thing only, political survival. Pat Toomey a noted conservative firebrand from Pennsylvania was gearing up to challenge Specter in the Republican primary. In 2004 Specter held off Toomey in the GOP primary by a scant 17,000 votes. Since then more than 200,000 moderate Republicans in Pennsylvania switched their registrations to the Democratic Party. Arlen has been left chasing those 200,000 voters, which are essentially his base. To get to them he has to be a Dem now. It's clear that even center-right doesn't play in the GOP any more. The Toomey crowd, the ascendent reactionary wing of the GOP, isn't going for "center-right". The Republican electorate in Pennsylvania, now has more in common with the voters of say, Alabama, than the rest of it's state now. They have no shot of their chosen scion of the right winning the general against Specter, because they are WAY out of step with what is now a solidly blue state.
So to Arlen, I say welcome. But remember if you are to be a Dem Senator in a blue state, you must act like one. No more wavering on EFCA, support real health care reform and no pandering on the torture issue. For in a blue state you are always in danger of losing to someone bluer.
True blue or your through.
It is impossible to make the case that this is good news for the GOP. Specter along with the eventual seating of Al Franken will give the Democrats the 60 seats needed to virtually completely shut Republicans out of any significant decision making in Washington. It also is another step along the way of the growing marginalization of a party made up increasingly of conservative activists, old white men, southern evangelicals and little else.
The reality of Specter's move is about one thing and one thing only, political survival. Pat Toomey a noted conservative firebrand from Pennsylvania was gearing up to challenge Specter in the Republican primary. In 2004 Specter held off Toomey in the GOP primary by a scant 17,000 votes. Since then more than 200,000 moderate Republicans in Pennsylvania switched their registrations to the Democratic Party. Arlen has been left chasing those 200,000 voters, which are essentially his base. To get to them he has to be a Dem now. It's clear that even center-right doesn't play in the GOP any more. The Toomey crowd, the ascendent reactionary wing of the GOP, isn't going for "center-right". The Republican electorate in Pennsylvania, now has more in common with the voters of say, Alabama, than the rest of it's state now. They have no shot of their chosen scion of the right winning the general against Specter, because they are WAY out of step with what is now a solidly blue state.
So to Arlen, I say welcome. But remember if you are to be a Dem Senator in a blue state, you must act like one. No more wavering on EFCA, support real health care reform and no pandering on the torture issue. For in a blue state you are always in danger of losing to someone bluer.
True blue or your through.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Tea protests a mixed Bag of nuts...
If there is one thing I enjoy about the far right in this country, it's they are completely immune to irony. To give you an example take Tuesday's release of a Homeland Security report on domestic right wing terrorist groups, that got much of the right into a tizzy. These same people who spent years saying things like, "Civil rights do you no good when you're dead." As they cheerfully hand clapped through the destruction of the Constitution, all to combat radical Muslim terrorists. Find themselves now outraged that this same national security apparatus, that they shouted from the rooftops for, might be used to track, GASP, white extremists, hate groups etc. Terror comes in all colors people, and to not follow up on all enemies foreign and domestic, would be a gross breach of what national security is supposed to be about.
The Tea Party protest is another great example. These wingers are gathering to protest wasteful spending by buying up millions of bags of tea, and then throwing them out. There is little that could be more head shakingly wasteful than that. Also one is led to ask where were these people 8 years ago? Let's take a look at our national debt figures shall we...
09/30/2000 $5,674,178,209,886.86
09/30/2001 $5,807,463,412,200.06
09/30/2002 $6,228,235,965,597.16
09/30/2003 $6,783,231,062,743.62
09/30/2004 $7,379,052,696,330.32
09/30/2005 $7,932,709,661,723.50
09/30/2006 $8,506,973,899,215.23
09/30/2007 $9,007,653,372,262.48
09/30/2008 $10,024,724,896,912.49
Our debt has nearly doubled over the last 8 fiscal years without a whit of protest. Let's be honest here, these people are protesting Obama's spending priorities and Democratic governance in general. And that is fine, you're entitled protest away. Much good may it do you. But you can't sell me on the idea that these protests are really about all government spending or debt. If that were the case, you guys should have taken to the streets years ago.
Below I have the Daily show take on the teabagging, awesome as usual.
The Tea Party protest is another great example. These wingers are gathering to protest wasteful spending by buying up millions of bags of tea, and then throwing them out. There is little that could be more head shakingly wasteful than that. Also one is led to ask where were these people 8 years ago? Let's take a look at our national debt figures shall we...
09/30/2000 $5,674,178,209,886.86
09/30/2001 $5,807,463,412,200.06
09/30/2002 $6,228,235,965,597.16
09/30/2003 $6,783,231,062,743.62
09/30/2004 $7,379,052,696,330.32
09/30/2005 $7,932,709,661,723.50
09/30/2006 $8,506,973,899,215.23
09/30/2007 $9,007,653,372,262.48
09/30/2008 $10,024,724,896,912.49
Our debt has nearly doubled over the last 8 fiscal years without a whit of protest. Let's be honest here, these people are protesting Obama's spending priorities and Democratic governance in general. And that is fine, you're entitled protest away. Much good may it do you. But you can't sell me on the idea that these protests are really about all government spending or debt. If that were the case, you guys should have taken to the streets years ago.
Below I have the Daily show take on the teabagging, awesome as usual.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | M - Th 11p / 10c | |||
| Tempest in a Tea Party | ||||
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