I don't get it. I use Google all the friggin' time, so how come I haven't seen a single one of these Google April Fool's jokes?
(I wonder if they are only on google.com, not google.co.uk? A couple of years ago I started to get automatically redirected from google.com to google.co.uk, and I don't know how to change it.)
Monday, April 02, 2007
Individual voices
OK, so I keep going on about Friends. But it takes time to re-watch ten seasons! :)
One thing which is a testemony to the subtlety of the show is how each character, without it getting pushed in your face, has his own individual voice.
Good example: Ross (and he is the only one) makes these semi-deliberate, subtle puns...
"You're over me? When were you... under me?"
"Wasn't this supposed to be just a fling? Shouldn't it have been... flung by now?"
"It turns out she [the dying grandma who suddenly woke moved after she'd been pronounced dead) isn't passed. She is... present."
And such things are consistent over ten seasons and lord knows how many writers working at the same time. I don't think I could do that.
One thing which is a testemony to the subtlety of the show is how each character, without it getting pushed in your face, has his own individual voice.
Good example: Ross (and he is the only one) makes these semi-deliberate, subtle puns...
"You're over me? When were you... under me?"
"Wasn't this supposed to be just a fling? Shouldn't it have been... flung by now?"
"It turns out she [the dying grandma who suddenly woke moved after she'd been pronounced dead) isn't passed. She is... present."
And such things are consistent over ten seasons and lord knows how many writers working at the same time. I don't think I could do that.
Frederick Chang
Frederick Chang photos.
I really like this guy's work.
It seems he is using medium format, rare these days.
Here are two favorites.
I post them small so you'll have to click on them, because they are of the kind where you really have to see them large to appreciate the art.
(Big files, much detail, slow download.)
I really like this guy's work.
It seems he is using medium format, rare these days.
Here are two favorites.
I post them small so you'll have to click on them, because they are of the kind where you really have to see them large to appreciate the art.
(Big files, much detail, slow download.)
Beatles: Revolution (hard rock)
Did you ever see/hear the live, hard-rock Beatles version of Revolution? It's just the coolest thing. I really wish they had gotten around to make more hard rock.
I love Lennon's stone-face delivery.
I don't think this version was ever on an album, I think it's from a US TV show.
John Travolta has a theory that any person has a personality corresponding to one of the Beatles. Himself is "John all the way, baby".
Me, I would be Lennon. No doubt.
My only problem is, I can see how John is the intellectual, intense guy, and Paul is the charming, boyish type. But... Ringo? the... clown? And George, I have no clue.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Napoleon
Pascal said:
Somebody once said to Napoleon, who gave medals to his soldiers : "You reward men's bravery with toys and trinkets."
He replied : "The world is ruled with toys and trinkets."
It certainly works when people are fully satisfied just by receiving them!
It is amazing what one can learn about humanity from nasty dictators. It makes sense though, to rule a lot of humans, you have to understand them, unless you have a galactic fleet. And even then, how would you rule the fleet?
The first half of the 20th in particular saw some of the most spectacular mind-domination by PR, from Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini.
Some will say we still have this, but I disagree. The democratization of communication media has ruined that power. Just in the sixties, very popular movies appeared which portrayed politicians and police men as potential bad guys, something hardly anybody imagined earlier. And the Internet of course has clinched this big time. Even China is buckling under this.
Somebody once said to Napoleon, who gave medals to his soldiers : "You reward men's bravery with toys and trinkets."
He replied : "The world is ruled with toys and trinkets."
It certainly works when people are fully satisfied just by receiving them!
It is amazing what one can learn about humanity from nasty dictators. It makes sense though, to rule a lot of humans, you have to understand them, unless you have a galactic fleet. And even then, how would you rule the fleet?
The first half of the 20th in particular saw some of the most spectacular mind-domination by PR, from Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini.
Some will say we still have this, but I disagree. The democratization of communication media has ruined that power. Just in the sixties, very popular movies appeared which portrayed politicians and police men as potential bad guys, something hardly anybody imagined earlier. And the Internet of course has clinched this big time. Even China is buckling under this.
"Waiting For The Man"
Get this rare, bitching cover of "Waiting For The Man" by David Bowie and Lou Reed.
"Cure Autism Now"
Rebekah, who wrote a touching letter for the Feb 9 issue of the Domai newsletter, is walking for Cure Autism Now.
I'm leaving
After twelve years of being online every day, I'm tired of it. Actually I am tired of modern life altogether. Too much stimulation. So I have sublet out my apartment for the next five years, and I have rented a little cottage in the lake district just a couple hours north of here. And the only electrical things in the place will be a refrigerator and a couple of lamps. So I'm selling all my Macs and digital cameras. Mail me if you want to put in an offer.
The date is a significant reason for this development.
---
Update, April the second:
OK, this was an April fool's joke.
The date is a significant reason for this development.
---
Update, April the second:
OK, this was an April fool's joke.
Spam Dada Poetry
I think we have a new generation of Dadaist poets. I just got this as part of the camouflage text in a spam email. It is strangely beautiful. Works at least as well as Finnigan's Wake anyway.
Listar, version, sun xmailer microsoft, outlook express bat?
United states senate of political parties democratic?
Exposs and nation digital new republic york, web!
Meet press nando times news now index review.
Th tags no comments tuefebtags agency graphic.
Replyto seen nbc cbs cnn even oprah.
Design nick nyc oswego, vandal, pmtags tagged.
Prevthread nextdate indexfwd youngerto spamfilter jim.
Kanardo graphics, trust, latest registered rarz nickel stepaola owenns.
Listar, version, sun xmailer microsoft, outlook express bat?
Listar, version, sun xmailer microsoft, outlook express bat?
United states senate of political parties democratic?
Exposs and nation digital new republic york, web!
Meet press nando times news now index review.
Th tags no comments tuefebtags agency graphic.
Replyto seen nbc cbs cnn even oprah.
Design nick nyc oswego, vandal, pmtags tagged.
Prevthread nextdate indexfwd youngerto spamfilter jim.
Kanardo graphics, trust, latest registered rarz nickel stepaola owenns.
Listar, version, sun xmailer microsoft, outlook express bat?
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