Irrelevance Glorified

I’m not a huge video game person. In fact, I am pathologically unable to complete a game that lasts more than a few hours. But I do enjoy hearing about video games, and I do enjoy reminiscing about video games. Every once in a while I visit Gametrailers to see what new stuff is out, because I’m just so amazed at what the next-gen systems can do. Along the way, I stumbled across the Angry Video Game Nerd, a foul-mouthed New Jerseyite geek with a penchant for playing old games and belaboring them on their poor design. Rated R for language (hence the age warning on the video), I just can’t stop laughing at them. Here is a review for the old NES Silver Surfer game. Crude? Oh, absolutely. But I can relate.

Not too many people are familiar with Domokun. For a brief overview, look here, and for some video evidence, check this out. Basically, Domo-kun is this odd, brown, furry creature, hatched from an egg, that hangs out with a wise old rabbit, and watches TV. In fact, he is the mascot of NHK, Japan’s PBS. He has large pointy teeth and a mouth that can’t close. What’s not to love? Well, my japanese friends know of my Domo-kun obsession, and enable it. Imagine my surpise and delight when, upon my last visit to Japan, I discovered Domo-kun keychains/phone accessories! Even better, there are many different ones that show him in different costumes. Thanks to Tomoko, I now have a large number of them, and would like to share. Continue Reading »

I like cold weather. I’m not a skier or a skater or a curler, but I simply feel more comfortable when it’s cold out. My philosophy has always been that when it get cold, you can always put more clothes on. When it’s hot, there’s a limit before you’re breaking decency laws. As a lifelong Midwesterner, I take pride in the cold weather. I think it keeps the tourist students out. In contrast, if you go to, say, UC-Santa Barbara or Stanford, you could just be going to get your surf on or have a good tan. At this university, if you’re here, you want to be here, and you’re serious about it. I don’t want to be too elitist about it, though, or else some Minnesotan will read this and get all high and mighty. Some people, such as my sister (who has circulation problems), think anything below 50 is cause for a sweater and a jacket. But you really need to have a different measuring stick when it gets cold. My simple, empirical metric is that it is cold when I breathe in through my nose, and my snot freezes.

It is cold today.

Well, in an earlier post I discussed some books that I thought were provocative enough to leave an impression on me. I wanted to do the same for movies. However, when looking back on the movies that I’ve seen, I can’t think of nearly as many examples. But I’ll do what I can. Because I know there are so many people out there who care. Continue Reading »

Every once in a while, you come across a book that blows your mind. One that changes your view of the world in some way, whether it enlightens your understanding of the world that you see, or opens your eyes to a broader world. I’m bored, so I’m going to take some time and list some of the books that I have found mind-blowing in the past. Along with some Amazon links. I’m too lazy to set up referral, so no money for me. Continue Reading »