US designer Dan Meth received much kudos for his map of US sitcoms. I posted about it here. It was a nice idea and it’s good to see it replicated for British comedies – because everyone knows that British comedies are superior.
Here’s the intro post from the designer of this most fantastic map.
I sometimes wonder why some people I respect in real life, and who show all the hallmarks of humility have such arrogant online profiles or personal webpages.
I won’t link to them – but as a general rule they’re as good as they say they are. It just seems a little arrogant to claim to be as good as you are – though I was accused recently of being a typical Australian with tall poppy tendencies – so maybe that’s it.
I wonder if having an online brand blows the idea of humility out of the water. Certainly social media encourage talking about yourself in the third person – but the fact that you feel compelled to write a bio of yourself on your webpage highlighting your field of expertise does not lend itself to humility.
That is all.
Ok, ok, so I might be going overboard with my enthusiasm on the Simon and Garfunkel reunion – but humour me. A toll road is not a bridge. But it’s close.
Have you heard the story about Nick Bolton. He’s the shareholder threatening progress on Australia’s biggest infrastructure project.
Nicholas Bolton - From the SMH
Not to be deterred – or overly concerned about the looming $94 million payment he’ll have to make – Nick is trying to close down the company. He’s almost a majority shareholder – and there are others who are in the same boat.
He’s currently in court. It’s a funny story. Shame he doesn’t listen to Muse. Their lyrics may prove prophetic in his case. Ahh Muse. They’ve got a song for all seasons…
“take, take all you need
and i’ll compensate your greed
with broken hearts…”“Say, it’ll make you insane
and it’s bending the truth
you’re to blame
for all the life that you’ll lose and
you watch this space
but i’m going all the way
and be your slave to the grave”
– Lyrics from The Small Print, by Muse
It’s 70’s reunion week this week. Apparently. Two of the best duos to come out of the 60s and 70’s (who also both split somewhat acrimoniously) have reformed recently and both have just announced tours of Australia.
Both these duos have been seminal influences on my taste in comedy and music, and musical comedy.
Cheech and Chong – everybody’s favourite stoners – are coming out of semi-retirement for a series of stand up dates around Australia.
And perhaps more importantly – and much more excitingly – Simon and Garfunkel will be touring Australia later this year. They’re playing a show in Brisbane (and a few others around the country) that will no doubt sell out instantly and be exorbitantly priced…
It’s been too long since I last bagged out PETA. Far too long. They are stupid. Let that be on the record here. If in 15 years someone is vetting me for some high powered role and this disqualifies me… so be it. I’ll stand by this. PETA is stupid. People who protest about animal rights are generally stupid – there’s a generalisation for you… but they’re particularly stupid when they’re protesting about people shooting dogs. In video games. Where they’re also shooting ze Germans. And the dogs are nasty attack dogs. They’re not puppies.
PETA’s real beef should be with those who train vicious attack dogs, but then they don’t like beef either.
If PETA were normal humans they’d be much more worried about the fact that the game involves people being shot, but no, it’s all about dogs.
A PETA statement says:
“Not since we were pitted against Nazi attack dogs when we first escaped from Castle Wolfenstein 17 years ago have we seen such barbaric treatment of dogs in gameplay as we did in Call of Duty, World of War.”
This case was prosecuted by equally stupid students – who started a petition, because:
“Killing dogs as a form of entertainment … over and over again. That’s one of the objects of the game,” says Lucci, 19, a senior at NDA. “Parents need to know what they are buying their kids. Killing animals should not be a form of entertainment.”
“My little 12-pound Pomeranian, Winnie the Pooh, is sitting next to [Lucci’s brother as he plays the game], and I’m thinking, ‘This looks horrible!'” Lucci says.
Lucci then adds, “My brother is a sweetheart. He won’t be killing dogs after playing. But some people might.”
Those of you concerned about animal welfare in the gaming realm should apparently play Fable 2. It won PETA’s award for most animal friendly game release.
“In this virtual fight between good and evil, characters powered by tofu are just as powerful as their meat-eating counterparts—and are more fit and attractive to boot. Featuring a strong pro-vegetarian theme, eating a plant-based diet helps you rack up “purity” points, whereas eating meat makes your character fat and evil.”
“A fun and innovative game, it’s also an effective tool that teaches gamers the real-life benefits of a vegetarian diet.”
Here’s a video of Call of Duty’s dog killing exploits… warning contents may offend if you find the shooting of pixelated canines trying to rip the throat from your pixelated character offensive…
Tim asked if I’m planning to blog about April Fools news stories today. I was thinking about it. But hadn’t decided.
I was watching the Today Show this morning – and I never cease to be amazed by the number of people fulled by a pretty poor April Fools joke – just because it’s on TV.
The Today Show had school speed zones being manned by speedo and bikini clad “SPEEDOS” (an acronym they kept repeating) holding speed signs to remind drivers. Prompting much outrage.
Google’s joke is classier – the gBall would be a triumph of modern convergence technology…
The features:
Saudi Arabia is not a nice place to be if you’re a Muslim looking to become a Christian.
Anyone who wants to preach the message that Islam is a religion of love and tolerance should consider the punishment dished out on anybody who wants to leave the fold.
In Christianity we call communities that shun or excommunicate those who leave cults. It’s one of the criterion a cult must meet.
According to Islamic rules – as stated in the Hadith of Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 84, Number 57, which is authoritative for all Muslims:
“Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to ‘Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn ‘Abbas who said, “If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah’s Apostle forbade it, saying, ‘Do not punish anybody with Allah’s punishment (fire).’ I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah’s Apostle, ‘Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.’”
A Christian convert in Saudi Arabia, a young girl, wrote this poem (and posted it online) shortly before her family killed her for apostasy. Here’s an excerpt:
There are tears on my cheek, and Oh! the heart is sad
To those who become Christians, how you are so cruel!
And the Messiah says, “Blessed are the Persecuted”
And we for the sake of Christ all things bearWhat is it to you that we are infidels?
You do not enter our graves, as if with us buriedEnough – your swords do not concern me, not evil nor disgrace
Your threats do not trouble me, and we are not afraid
And by God, I am unto death a Christian—Verily
I cry for what passed by, of a sad life
Talk about courage under fire.
There are three things this episode prompts me to think.
This is a more serious tone than I like to put here – but this story is just overwhelmingly sad. And this sort of insight into martyrdom is rare. This lady’s entire poem is well worth a read. Do it.
This piece of artwork would make for an incredibly cool T-Shirt. Some people love Seinfeld, for others it’s a hate relationship… but there’s no denying this is a great piece of design. It contains 99 references to Seinfeld episodes… click the images for a bigger version.
I’ve never been a Jane Austen fan. I have no desire to relive the Elizabethian era or glamourise a time where a man in posession of a fortune may be in want of a wife. Unless of course the glorification of said time were a gorification – complete with brain eating zombies. Everybody loves a brain eating zombie romance. It’s what made Shaun of the Dead so appealing. From memory it was marketed as a Rom-Zom-Com – a Romantic Zombie Comedy.
I was no doubt scarred as a child playing too much “Horror Zombies From the Crypt” (download from abandonia) on the Amiga.
But what’s all this about zombies you ask? Particularly because I started off talking about Jane Austen. Oh yes. If you would prefer Pride and Prejudice retold with the awesome upgrade package – namely zombies wreaking havoc throughout the plot – now you can. Thanks to ThinkGeek.
How would you advertise Lego? It pretty much sells itself. Here are 39 clever Lego ads. A mix of inspirational and controversial. And a periodic table for good measure.
Gambit was always my favourite X-man as a child. And I was never sure how to recreate his flying cards of death. Cardboard just didn’t cut it.
These would cut it. Just about anything in fact.
So the dog video was not the best video ever posted on YouTube – these may be close. Classics movies presented in one minute… Kill Bill 1 and 2, and Forrest Gump…shot in one take. Brilliant.
I had a chance to watch The Godfather II with some guys from church a couple of weeks ago. I’d never really noticed this flow chart’s appearance in the movie (it’s not quite a family tree) – but I think it’s in the court hearing scene. Click it for a larger version.
There’s also this useful family timeline at the same site.
Little sister number two asks:
How much money are you ok with keeping if you find it on the ground?
Discuss.
Last time I posted something pointing out how awesomely unsustainable the use of water in production of coffee is people jumped up and down screaming and we ended up talking about the plight of battery hens.
Here’s another picture from Good (click it for full size) highlighting how coffee is not the worst of the bunch, and suggesting giving up steak as well. Greens arguing for not eating meat… that’s original.
