Tag: wow

the darkest of the darkest purple

Our Lady of the Metaphor, as discovered by Vandonovan in the truly terrible novel, Silk & Steel:

So, let’s pretend it’s pretty late and you’re doing a little light reading before bed, as you sometimes do. This book is one that you bought used probably fifteen years ago and it has sat on your shelf since then. Now, you’ve decided to read it and within the first page you realize it’s one of those fantasy novels, written by a man who wants to idolize his fantasy princess dream woman. But after he gets past describing her in chapter one you think, okay. Maybe there’s a good story in this book anyway.

Anyway, it’s only 200 pages, so even if it’s awful it’ll be quick.

So it’s late. You’re about halfway finished with the book. The princess has met the faerie king and he’s brought her to the faerie court! She’s met the faerie wives! And you turn the page and come across this:

Also see:

  • explaining the twinkly Mormon plot of Twilight by stoney321
  • “books to make my flist’s heads explode: John Ringo” by hradzka.

    • Yes, I live in Canada. Why do you ask?

    Jeepers, I thought last night was unexpectedly exciting, what with successfully hooking Nicole up with Nick for the holidays, finally meeting Dominique‘s new little baby, SURVIVING NICK’S NEW VAN CATCHING FIRE, (no one was hurt. I pulled Nicole out and we put the fire out with snow), and admitting rather bashfully to someone that I wrote about our personal life on the interblags, but today’s news sort of trumps it, so I’ll just get it out of the way and talk about yesterday in the next post…

    I’ve just been hired as a cameraperson for Chanukah on Ice.

    “Skate to Chanukah music or watch and nosh latkes and doughnuts.
    Monday, December 22, 2008, 6:00-7:30 pm.
    West End Ice Rink, 1750 Haro Street (Between Denman & Bidwell).
    Admission: By donation. Skates are free.”


    Which sounds, on the surface, like it’s going to be a Yiddish Icecapades, people dressed as sparkling, spinning dreidel, singing songs and throwing glitter under a rainbow of lights, but apparently it’s something a thousand times more hard-core bizarre. Something I would never have the wit or imagination to think up myself.

    It’s a Candle Lighting on an Menorah made of ice, a meter high and shaped like hockey sticks.

    Did you get that? Shaped like hockey sticks.

    facing away from the desert

    Southern California is Burning Again.

    Yesterday someone replied to the Craigslist ad I put up regarding our old catboxes, (the cats have taken over the bunny-igloo litter-spaceship David brought over and will never give it back), and I replied, “Sure! Come on over.” while sending David a note, “were they bleached or were we overwhelmed by other things?” The message back, “overwhelmed.” So while I’m at work, feeling guilty for having David scrub the catboxes, as it was my chore to do, I decide to rectify matters I must fetch him delicious treats and chocolate while getting groceries on the way home.

    (It’s fully dark by the time I leave work. The only benefit to this: Keith and I watch the result of the four p.m. sun set from our seventh floor office window as the tips of ordinary architecture are suddenly beautiful, bathed in melted girl-music gold, while everything at street level is already a heavy blue day-crunched dark.)

    Fast-forward to arriving home. I stumble in, ready to drop, heavy with bags of vegetables and canned soup, and then I stop, stunned. The apartment I left in the morning is gone, replaced by an entirely new portion of space. Everything unsorted that was haunting our living space, (minus the bathroom and the bedroom, untidy disasters both), has been shifted into neat piles in the spare room library. There are no more boxes to step over. The floors are clear, flat surfaces have resurfaced, it’s a miracle. The apartment has been organized.

    Summary: There is Not Enough Chocolate In The World.

    artpost: possibly one of the most unique interfaces I’ve ever seen

    http://www.bio-bak.nl

    The wicked playful, amazing and just downright weirdo-funny portfolio of talented, award winning, dutch flash artist/designer Coen Grift.

    Make sure to zoom in on everything, there’s an obscene amount of detail packed into the 1000 megapixels of art, comedy, and minigames.

    To start, find the raccoon with the metal detector. He’s hanging out by the tree of carrot death.

    via James Everett

    artpost: baby’s on fire

    Ignite, a Puncture Vine CD Cover, painted by Canadian illustrator Robert Carter.

    Other personal favourites include, Halo, Crack!, Sgt. Shakespeare, Unraveling Fire (boy), Inner Dialogue, and Black Gold Or Green Earth.

    Prints and commissions are available through his website, Cracked Hat.
    Found through Thefunnyweb.com, which has a nice collection of his work posted here.

    just another day on earth, but with SYD freaking MEAD.

    From Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH, VISUAL FUTURIST: The Life & Art of Syd Mead.

    Wednesday, May 14, 2008

    “We are giddy with excitement. Why? Well, we’re turning 5 this May, and Syd Mead is coming to help us celebrate with a double feature – a presentation and Q&A with him, followed by a screening of Blade Runner: The Final Cut! Join us for the fun on May 14 at the Empire Theatre on Granville St. It has been years since Syd Mead, one of the most influential designers of our times, has been to Vancouver. He’ll be speaking about his approach to design and the visionary work with which he has made his indelible mark on popular culture and our perceptions of the future. But wait – there’s more! Our long-time supporter, Sophia Books, will be there with Syd’s latest DVD – you might even be able to get the man himself to sign a copy for you. On top of that, Tangible Interaction is coming back with their Zygotes – a massive interactive hands-on display of fun meeting technology that the whole crowd can take part in. Reserve your tickets now and don’t miss out on this huge event!”

    “Syd Mead is a living legend amongst designers – he has been called a “visionary” and a “visual futurist”. From his beginnings in automotive design at Ford, Syd developed a style and philosophy that has spawned an enormous body of work filled with futuristic yet realistic creations. Syd’s work shaped the modern conception of the future with his designs for Blade Runner, Tron, Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Aliens. Films that forged a vision which still reverberates through the motion picture industry today. Few artists or designers have been as fortunate as to be involved with such a variety of industries around the world. Whether it be designs for vehicles, film, theme parks, interactive games, toys, products, theatre sets, ships, planes, or architecture, Syd has managed to leave his mark and provided his unique perspective each and every time. Today Syd lives and works in Southern California, where he continues to design, illustrate, speak and inspire. Mr. Mead will introduce the film.”

    6:00 pm: Mixer
    7:00 pm: Main Presentation
    9:30 pm: Blade Runner: The Final Cut – FREE*
    * Priority given to main presentation ticket holders

    Members: $15 / Non-members: $25 / Groups (5+): $20 (online only)

    Info and online registration:

    this is my new favourite thing

    365 day eleven: swept on
    365: day eleven

    Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller has a new video blog called Penn Says up on Crackle. It’s incredibly satisfying, as they consist entirely of Penn, a refreshingly intelligent individual, picking up a camera and talking into it about whatever he feels like. He’s astute, cynical, charming, and hilarious.

    “Now let me just tell you, I don’t care at all about Britney Spears. Britney Spears is in that category of, I think, someone I could have sex with and still not care about her. Usually, there’s something that that would trigger in me on automatic, but I think I could with Britney and still not even answer her e-mails.”

    Also, oh my mercy, not only does he compare Hillary Clinton to Jerry Lee Lewis, I think he just flashed his bits during a political rant about the possibility of a Mormon President’s magic underwear. Win. If there were more, I would leave these playing when I went to bed.