Benor

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:31:00 GMT

Today, in my car, I found a coupon for Wendys.

It was for a free Frosty, Junior. It was a Halloween coupon, as indicated by the two shades of orange as the background, and the jack-o-lantern to one side.

It also says, in small type, that it is not valid until November 2, 2009.

So.

Is this a terrible mistake, a cruel joke...or an amazing marketing move?

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:54:39 GMT

As I prepare for bed, inspiration has struck, and I have a question-what is the biggest geeky love you've had that has since fizzled out?

For me, it would probably be Magic: The Gathering. I enjoyed the game when I first started, but by the end I was completely disgusted with how I was taken in by the mechanics, and the fact that I found myself only playing with humorless asses who could not comprehend the idea of me doing something that was not going to bring me victory, but which was silly and fun to me.

A few points to consider.

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:18:51 GMT

First, for those of you who've mentioned not knowing Elvis Costello or his music from my last post, the Onion AV Club has what I consider a good primer on his music and its appeal. Unfortunately, the music they had uploaded for the primer is no longer functioning, but a few Youtube links can fill in at least some of those gaps, along with a few songs that I think they should have mentioned but didn't. But then, that's true whenever someone talks about an artist you like.

(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
Pump It Up
Good Year for the Roses
American Without Tears
Shipbuilding

Really, I'd recommend all of My Aim is True and This Year's Model as a natural starting point. Armed Forces is still good, if a bit spotty. Imperial Bedroom is amazing, but best to wait on until you try his earlier stuff first. But take my recommendations with a grain of salt, as I love My Aim is True and This Year's Model because that's how I was introduced to his music.

Second, I have finally given in to the newer portions of the internet, at least a little, and now have a twitter account. I don't know how much I'll be using it, but it occurred to me that while I have somewhat reasonable reservations about using Facebook or Myspace, my reluctance to join Twitter was based entirely on the fact that TV stations and news networks were pushing their Twitter pages in a desperate attempt to be "relevant." And now that this seems to be less noticeable, it might be nice to post quick updates on my status, or random thoughts that can be quickly summed up. Hell, it might even cause me to post more often in here, just from reading something that provokes a thought or two. We'll see how that goes.

As for the name, it's an obscure reference to Grant Morrison's work that I decided to steal.

There's a merry tune, that starts in I and ends in you....

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:34:49 GMT

You know, at some point I'm going to finally burn out on Elvis Costello and start listening to other music again.

It probably would have happened sooner, if I didn't keep finding sad but amazing moments in his songs. So really, it's a good problem to have.

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:08:01 GMT

After wrestling with several other topics I wanted to post about, I have to admit, this is one that I was not planning. But after hearing that Steve Rogers (AKA Captain America) will be coming back, as I expected, I have to admit something.

They did a decent job of it.

Now, I'm not going to say they did a good job. The whole "Death of Captain America" thing came from the mess that Civil War became, and considering what happened with Secret Invasion (and the ongoing "Dark Reign" thing, whatever it is meant to be), it seems more like they wanted Cap out of the way than anything else.

However, the actual work they did on Cap's replacement was pretty good, in my opinion. Bucky as his replacement worked a lot better than I expected, especially since they managed to have him try to step into Cap's shoes without making him too angsty. Or hitting us over the head with how it's a "legacy" now.

That doesn't mean that I'm looking forward to what they'll be doing with bringing him back. But I'll trust Ed Brubaker to do a decent job anyway.

The shark recession!

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:40:59 GMT

Truly, the economic end times are upon us.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/sciencefair/2009/02/shark-attacks-d.html

Even worse, could this be the beginning of....a nature depression?

Panic says yes!

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:09:13 GMT

Today....was a day of CLEANING!

I got groceries, washed all my sheets, vacuumed the apartment, and cleaned many surfaces. Tomorrow will also feature a great deal of cleaning, though hopefully not only cleaning.

It was good, though tiring.

The Senses Shattering Sensation of the Summer!

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:20:08 GMT

I know what the next great comic book event needs to be. It'll be a huge crossover between Marvel and DC.

I call it the Year When Nothing Happened.

For 12 whole months, no huge events will happen. No one will be killed outside of their own book, no one will be forced into awkward team ups or fights with other characters. The writers for each book will have control over that book, and no other. All crossovers will be local, and limited to 2 books or less.

Can you feel the excitement?!?

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:42:58 GMT

All right, this may be the best name I have ever heard of in history. Apparently, the first person to found a fire brigade in England had the name of "If Jesus Christ Had Not Died For Thee, Thou Hadst Been Damned Barebones." He received this name from his father, Praise God Barebones. He was smart enough to call himself Nicholas Barbon in public, but still.

If Jesus Christ Had Not Died For Thee, Thou Hadst Been Damned Barebones.

Do not tell me History is boring.

To whom it may concern...and those who don't already know.

Fri, 30 May 2008 04:31:04 GMT

I have a new job!

It is better than my old job.

Said job is during the graveyard shift!

This has greatly disrupted my sleep schedule, though I am close to adjusting fully.

So if you see me online in some fashion at 5 AM, that is the reason.

Please note, despite any evidence to the contrary, that this job will not allow me much time to act online. Any long stretches of availability will probably be an abberation, not the rule.

That is all.

A new American myth.

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:06:20 GMT

So, after the results of the primaries in NC and Indiania, here are my thoughts on what will happen to Hillary Clinton and her campaign.

May: She will continue to be deserted by friends and former supports, who bow to the inevitable and rally behind Obama. Despite losing in the primaries due to a popular perception that she cannot be the nominee, she will vow to fight on, despite all evidence that she should hang up her hat.

June: Her remaining supporters will take the loss in South Dakota as a sign to end the campaign, but Hillary will not. She will draw upon her own money again, as donations dwindle, to keep fighting, even though there are no primaries left to run in.

July: Clinton will try, unsuccessfully, to engage Obama in a series of bizarre publicity stunts, to prove who is the best nominee in various aspects. These will include proposals like best Rock Star vocalist, best double dutch jumper, and proving who's the bravest by seeing which candidate runs out of the haunted house first.

August: The Democratic party will formally nominate Barack Obama for president. Overtures to Hillary for the VP slot will be rebuffed by Clinton, who will claim that the whole convention was rigged by Louis Farrakhan and the Chinese Communist Party, and that she must continue for the good of the American people and cheese. A wild glint in Clinton's eye will now become more pronounced and troubling.

September: Clinton will sporadically crash rallies for both John McCain and Barack Obama, wearing boxing gloves and challenging them to a "slug fest." She will be forcibly escorted from the national debates, while screaming "I'm a contender! I'm a Democratic contender!"

October: Now deserted by the rest of her staff, Clinton will continue to campaign alone, arriving unannounced in small towns across America to deliver rambling speeches about being the best candidate ever, and how Obama chained her to a rock so vultures could eat her liver each day, even though it grew back each night. Bill Clinton will send bounty hunters after his wife to take her to a mental hospital, but she will elude them by virtue of her erratic scheduling, known only to her.

November: Drunken binge through Las Vegas.

December: On her way to her next "campaign stop," Hillary Clinton will disappear, without a trace. Investigators will suspect several local residents, and dredge a nearby lake, but no evidence will be found of her. Bill Clinton will become a public widower, while privately pursuing any woman he wants. No one will ever find Hillary, but a legend will grow over the years, as solitary drivers on federal interstates occasionally report hearing a quavering cry of "Vote Clinton in 08!" Hitchhikers will say they were addressed by a woman in a pantsuit, who shook their hand while wearing a hideous grin, before walking past them and shaking imaginary hands in a line. Hillary will eventually become the "Lost Politician" of American folklore, seen as a benign but terribly befuddled spirit, seeking every scrap of approval she can get for her "victory."

He was turned to steel, in the great magnetic field. Lots of carbon in those magnetic fields.

Sun, 04 May 2008 02:10:04 GMT

So...yeah.

I will not rant and rave about it. But I highly recommend going to see Iron Man. It's quite good.

I will need to see it again to be sure, but from what I can tell, it's on par with X-men 2 and Spiderman 2. Possibly better.

I would also say it's as good as Batman Begins. I would say Batman Begins was a little better, but Katie Holmes' lackluster performance (and character, to be perfectly honest-she did not do a good job as an actress, but some of her dialogue and situations were simply unnecessary to boot, and thus would have been hard to carry by even the best actress) dragged Batman Begins down a bit.

Anyway. I recommend seeing it. I also recommend staying past the credits for an extra teaser.

And I must note that this is one of the rare movies where it is worth paying the ticket cost to see it in the theater. Plus, if you want to see Iron Man 2, you should pay to see it at least once. If you download it so you don't have to pay, love it, and then wonder why they won't make a sequel, don't come bitching about it to me. :-P

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:12:37 GMT

Had a bad dream last night. Makes this song feel particularly appropriate this morning.

The Kinks-Waterloo Sunset

Dirty old river, must you keep rolling,
Flowing into the night
People so busy, make me feel dizzy,
Taxi lights shine so bright

But I don't, need no friends
As long as I gaze up,
Waterloo Sunset,
I am in Paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo Sunset's fine

Terry meets Julie, Waterloo Station,
Every Friday Night
But I am so lazy, don't want to wander
I stay at home at night

But I don't, feel afraid
As long as I gaze up,
Waterloo Sunset,
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo Sunset's fine

Millions of people, swarming like flies round,
Waterloo Underground
But Terry and Julie, cross over the river,
where they feel safe and sound

And they don't, need no friends,
As long as they gaze up,
Waterloo Sunset,
They are in paradise

I don't have a website to host the music on, but here's a Youtube link if you need to hear the song itself. Ignore the images. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J3gX47rHGg

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:48:08 GMT

I'm going to WTH Con today, so I probably won't be online until Sunday.

The new year is about to start. What will you be doing?

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:07:31 GMT

I have no resolutions for 2008. But I do have a pitch to make!

Since July, I've been doing web comic reviews for Caught Stealing Brains, a site started by a friend for that very purpose. They were kind enough to make it for me, so I definitely want it to succeed.

However, we need more reviewers!

At the time I write this, there are only three people reviewing the comics, and we'd like more people. After all, the more people we have, the more opinions we have, and the more perspectives. And that means I want YOU to sign up!

"So how do I sign up," you say? I'm glad you asked.

You see, while we need more reviewers, we aren't willing to take any old person off the street! Mostly because the judge tells me that kidnapping is illegal. Instead, you need to apply to become a reviewer. And that process is rather simple. Pick a webcomic that you regularly read, and write a review on it. The review can be for a single update, a chapter, the entire comic-whatever you wish, or think is appropriate. Then send it to "far a wide beyond at yahoo . com" (remove the spaces and change "at" to @). That review will be evaluated, to see if your spelling, grammar, and analysis meet our standards. If they do, welcome aboard!

And if you don't apply, I will weep bitter tears. Bitter, I say!

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:51:18 GMT

Man, I should really use this more often.

Then again, I never know what to say in here. "I brushed my teeth today."

Ah, well. Maybe just getting into a habit of posting in here would be helpful. Show that I haven't dropped off the face of the Earth.

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 01:54:05 GMT

So, at the behest of Professor Dobson, I am posting this link. A few of you will know what it is, and how it's played, but this is mostly for all the people I know outside of Guilford. I'm trying to cast a wide net here.

Sultan!

http://snood.pair.com/sultan/index.php

It's a fun webbased game, built on intrique, decadence, and ostentatious displays of wealth. The basic rules are on the website, and they're pretty easy to pick up. Go register and play!

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:22:30 GMT

I'm sorry I don't have much to say in my journal. Then again, I've never had much to say in my journal. However, I can link to a journal where I've had a lot to say-Caught Stealing Brains!

http://www.peskybrain.com/csbrains/

It's a webcomic review journal, and I'm enjoying it so far. I'm indebted to Master Flare for setting it up and hosting it, and she's the current editor in chief. If you have any interest in joining, talk to her on the forums to find out about applying-you'll need to prove you can post at least one review a week, that you can write well, and you'll need to provide an example of your work. Or you can just post on the forums about comics you're interested in.

Of course, this is my primary personal journal, so if you want to never hear about me, keep watching this one.

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:52:22 GMT

So, last night I had a very odd dream.

In this dream, myself (or an inventor analogue of my self) and Agatha Heterodyne, the main character from the comic Girl Genius, approached an adult Draco Malfoy, who had apparently holed up in a German castle-which was in the middle of a large city, which also contained a second castle-after the events that killed Voldemort had ended. I haven't read the the last Harry Potter book, so I don't know what events those were. Apparently, Agatha and I were planning an expedition of some kind, and we wanted Draco to come along. He mentioned something about being prophesied to die if he left with us (but not until after he had a sexual escapade that would later result in a son-apparently he'd read this prophesy, and there were two ways it could go), but we argued with him until he agreed. At this point, a narrator broke in about how at the time, none of us could have known that only two of us would return, and that those two wouldn't initially know about the nature of the diseases they carried. This was said in a very scholarly manner, as though the narrator was trying to explain a historical point instead of a dramatic one.

Then we left, and found ourselves driving underwater, in some kind of SUV. However, none of us had a problem breathing underwater, because we would occasionally lean out the windows, and after a while we just got out and walked around, like there wasn't any water around. We were apparently looking for something created by Moliere, who was (in this dream) responsible for creating the First or Second Great Age of Magic, which I somehow knew we were living in. And it was supposedly stored in some kind of silo. We found the silo, with the help of Agatha's teacher from the comic-of course, we acted like he'd been part of the expedition all along. I also do not remember his name. As we were walking across the bridge, Agatha tripped and fell to one side, and was apparently sucked under a bunch of gravel. I was the only one to notice, and I managed to pull her out before she completely disappeared, but she had three long and nasty gashes on one arm. Malfoy and I held Agatha down while the teacher stitched her up as well as he could-Agatha, of course, was very unhappy and screamed in pain, while she complained about how she was always the one who got the worst injuries. Just as the teacher had finished the last stitch....I woke up.

Normally I don't try to remember my dreams, but this one was very vivid at the time, very coherent but unusual...and since I just recently woke up, I thought I'd record what I could before I lost it.

EDIT: After running some errands, I've checked and found out that the teacher's name was Dr. Beetle. I also edited a few things, such as changing "pornographic" to "sexual," since I thought "pornographic" implied I saw details of said escapade. Draco just briefly touched on it.

Spider Pig, Spider Pig...

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:00:13 GMT

So, I just came back from watching the Simpsons Movie. I laughed a lot. It was very funny.

....

...what, you need more? No! Go watch it!

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:49:01 GMT

So, I love Shigeru Miyamoto.

I love him for the games he's created. I love him for the fact that he created the Mario and Zelda franchises, and the fact that he's never retired at any point-he's still working on new games, and on bringing some of his oldest ideas to light. Ideas that wouldn't work with the technology he had when he first came up with it.

But when I read a Wired interview with Miyamoto, I was reminded of another reason I love Shigeru Miyamoto-his ability to look at issues with video games. To quote him:

"Up until now, the biggest question in society about video games has been what to do about violent games. But it's almost like society in general considers video games to be something of a nuisance, that they want to toss into the garbage can. And so really what we feel is that rather than answering the question of what to do about violence in video games, we can, through the games that we create, once again make video games a topic of popular discussion and popular culture, then gradually you're going to see society come to understand video games better and understand what they're all about. At that point, once that understanding is there, people will become able to address their concerns about violent video games from a position of understanding rather than a position of being on the outside looking in."

Sure, there's a little bit of a dreamer's perspective in there-I doubt that video games will expand enough to reach the legislators and public figures in America who are calling for regulations and bans on video games, since part of their objections are an attempt to look like they're protecting the nebulous idea of "family values." But at the same time, there's a very good point about the public perception of video games, and the fact that no one is going to stop making violent video games of their own volition when they sell well. And no one who plays video games will be happy with censorship legislation for their chosen hobby, especially when the people writing the legislation seem to be so ignorant of what they want to censor.

And right after that, another excellent point:

"Wired: In general, have you been happy with how people have picked up on this new type of video game design? It seems like third parties are just copying Nintendogs and Brain Age.

Shigeru Miyamoto: I think that the entertainment industry itself has a history of chasing success. Any time a hit product comes out, all the other companies start chasing after that success and trying to recreate it by putting out similar products."

SO Goddamn true.

Anyway. I just wanted to point out those two things. The rest of the interview is interesting, but those stuck out to me.

More information.

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:18:31 GMT

Back to working on the Everyman idea, with a little more information.

I mentioned before that the mask switches hosts every night, and there's a reason for that. If someone wears the masks more than once in 24 hours, then the magical transformation it grants becomes more powerful. First, the transformation becomes permanent, instead of disappearing when the Everyman mask is taken off. After that, the person wearing the mask begins to gain superhuman levels of strength, speed, and endurance. At the same time, the host gains more prominence in deciding what to do while wearing the mask. Both of these effects are ongoing, with no known end in sight. This has only happened once, and the host started to become paranoid and excessive in using his abilities to stop crime. The mask was able to separate itself from that host, and this is the prime reason why it continually picks new hosts, instead of trying to find a dedicated person to use its power. It fears that the mental problems developed by its only long-time host might repeat themselves if another person wears it for a long period of time.

As for why it fights crime and evil, instead of trying for personal gain, the Everyman itself isn't sure. It wants to stop crime, and what it deems 'evil,' but it has trouble defining when it got this goal or why. I'm not sure on its origin right now, but I am trying to come up with one. It would probably have been created in the 1920s, though. Possibly as some kind of reaction to the Great War.

As for the hosts, they don't lose the memories of what they did as Everyman. But it's something they instinctively keep to themselves-a few have made contact with each other, but most just don't know anyone else who's acted as a host.

I think I've covered most of the ideas I've had for this so far.

I owe Steve Ditko.

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:48:05 GMT

So, I came up with this idea for a superhero the other day. It's rather odd, and admittedly inspired by the Question in appearance, but I like the concept.

The name of the Superhero? The Everyman.

The Everyman is actually not a person. it's a piece of fabric, a mask designed to be pulled over the head. It does not impair any of the wearer's senses or their breathing, even though there are no visible openings for the ears, nose or mouth. When worn, the mask hides all significant facial features-the wearer's nose and eye sockets can still be made out, but only vaguely. The mask also happens to be alive.

When someone is near it, the Everyman can communicate telepathically with that person. It will usually ask the person to put on the mask, and often will do so by promising the power to make a difference. It must be noted that the Everyman does not ask this of everyone it can contact, and to date it has never asked it of a criminal of any kind.

If the person puts on the mask, they are changed into the Everyman Template. This consists of a magical resculpting of their body-they keep their general body shape, but excess fat and other undesirable elements are converted into muscle, tendons and energy, giving them the physical ability to do what the Everyman requires. The person is generally changed back when they remove the Everyman, but they are often a little healthier than they were before.

Though the Everyman assumes control at this point, it should be noted that it does not take full control away from the host-rather, it acts with the host's approval. Occasionally there has been a disagreement between the Everyman and its host, and this usually results in inactivity; the host is unable to take full control, but the Everyman cannot force the host into action.

The Everyman's persona is one of focus, and war on all forms of crime. It is quite intelligent, but often relies on its host for a large portion of its specific knowledge, such as computer use or ancient history. The Everyman's permanent information is mostly concentrated on combat and intimidation, though it has a surprisingly contemporary knowledge of local and state law.

The Everyman is both feared and misunderstood by criminals-everyone wants to see him/her dead, but the multiple accounts on what he/she did-and what they looked like at the time.

Anyway, that's the idea so far.

EDIT-Just to give some legal basis for covering my bases, the Everyman is my idea and concept. Please don't steal it.

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 02:10:29 GMT

I don't have anything substantial to say on here today...

...but I wanted to get my last entry pushed down a little, since it was so emphatic yet vague and irritating.

Anyway-hello. I'm going to resist the urge to make some kind of long post tonight, since I don't have anything much to say, as I've already noted, but....hello.

I've had it.

Sat, 05 May 2007 04:58:01 GMT

I've fucking had it.