1901

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Just Watched

« on: June 20, 2014, 04:49:43 AM »

Considering two of its main characters were played by well-known comedians, that was a deeply disturbing movie.

1902

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Game of Thrones

« on: June 20, 2014, 03:07:00 AM »

I never perceived an increase in brooding in books 4&5. An increase in boring chapters that don't really go anywhere, sure, but not brooding.

Yeah, that was a new idea to me, too.  I'll agree that Cersei's out-of-nowhere motivation for hating Tyrion was stupid, and maybe Dany spent a little too much time regretting the way things had gone after all the things she had done (but I kind of love her character for that too).  Other than that I really don't see it.

What's weird to me about the way Martin suddenly seemed to be drawing out the story is that it really wasn't necessary for him to do so.  It was supposed to be, what, four books at first?  He was the one who decided to expand it like this.  He has no one to blame for being bored with the story but himself.

Oh, the lack of Tywin saying "Wherever whores go" was a bit disappointing to me too.  That background with Tysha is such an important part of Tyrion's character arc I am a bit surprised they left it entirely out, and that is a killer line.  I was kind of hoping they would end the whole episode on Tyrion killing Tywin and fleeing King's Landing, but ending it on Arya setting sail for Braavos makes sense too.

On another note, I downloaded Roges on my Kindle, obviously mostly for the new George RR Martin "story", and what a disappointment that was.  It reads more like a history book than a real story, and it's not even really about the "rogue" (Daemon Targaryen) that would make its inclusion in this collection make sense, it's more about his brother (Viserys, obviously not Dany's brother) and the Targaeryans of the era as a whole, and it expressly leaves a lot of what was supposed to make Daemon interesting out.  And worst of all, if I read right it's an excerpt of that big history of Westeros Martin has coming out later this year, so buying it solely for new George RR Martin is entirely unnecessary if you intend to get that book.  It was also way too short.  Even the introduction Martin wrote for the book is lazy.  If it weren't for the new Gaiman and Lansdale stories that are also in it I would declare it a complete waste of money.

1903

Arts & Entertainment / Re: 24: Live Another Day

« on: June 14, 2014, 05:56:59 PM »

I love the casting in this season.  William Devane, Stephen Fry, Benjamin Bratt, Catelyn Stark, Chuck's girl, Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, a handful of people I vaguely recognize from other things I can't currently identify... excellent.

1904

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Just Watched

« on: June 11, 2014, 01:41:45 AM »

I've watched the first few episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  Honestly, it's not as terrible as you might have heard, it's just, well, not great.  It's hokey, it's clichéd, and at times it comes across a little fanficcy, like when they make pointless references to elements from the movies.  It's as if they're saying to the audience, "Remember, this is being made by - sort of - the same people who made the movies, so it must great by association!"  Like I said, though, it's not bad, and I've heard it actually becomes quite good later on in the season.  So, if you're a big fan of the movies and want to see more of the universe or whatever, you might want to check it out.  Just don't be expecting something that delivers on the level of the movies.

A TV show budget can't deliver an experience on the same level as an action movie budget?  How surprising.

1905

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Transgenderism

« on: May 23, 2014, 03:10:52 AM »

I think that using surgery to radically alter your physical appearance and butcher your sexual organs is a poor way to deal with what is at heart a psychological issue.  I am actually an extremely liberal guy about most things, but I think that the notion that we should just accept this practice because "this is who these people are" is taking things a bit too far.

Why did you use quotation marks?  Do you have some reason to doubt the sincerity of people claiming to be transgendered?

Well, it's more that this is categorically not who these people are.  If I go through the kind of physical alterations Robert Downey Jr's character went through in Tropic Thunder it does not make me a black man, no matter how much I might wish I was born one or how much I might identify with them.  This is no different.

  It is truly disgusting.

Can you elaborate?  This comment strikes me as pure knee-jerk but I would like to know if there is more to it.

You want me to elaborate on how permanently butchering oneself is a disgusting thing to do?  Seriously?  I don't even know how to answer that; I feel just the description is ample enough explanation.

Whatever happened to just learning to accept ourselves for who we are?  Does that not apply if we have difficulty accepting that we are male, or female?

Let's assume that psychological routes have been exhausted and the difference between gender perception and gender physiology still causes great distress to someone, how would you propose alleviating their suffering?

Well, they can just do what people did before we had drugs and therapy and major sexual organ butchering surgery.  Deal with it.  I learned to accept that my life isn't perfect and that I will never be perfectly satisfied with it a long time ago.

We all have problems.

1906

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Transgenderism

« on: May 22, 2014, 02:02:00 AM »

I think that using surgery to radically alter your physical appearance and butcher your sexual organs is a poor way to deal with what is at heart a psychological issue.  I am actually an extremely liberal guy about most things, but I think that the notion that we should just accept this practice because "this is who these people are" is taking things a bit too far.  It is truly disgusting.  Whatever happened to just learning to accept ourselves for who we are?  Does that not apply if we have difficulty accepting that we are male, or female?

1907

Arts & Entertainment / Re: 24: Live Another Day

« on: May 16, 2014, 04:41:16 PM »

And the inevitable reveal of generic Muslim terrorists as antagonists raises its ugly head once again, and the whole thing turns to shit.  I probably won't bother watching any more.

Why is it always the Muslim terrorists? Is it lazy writing? How did this series get such good reviews to begin with?

It used to be better.  It was never magnificent, but at some point, some creativity, some actual thought had been put into it.

You just got done complaining that they have been using the same exact formula every season since the first. 

1908

Arts & Entertainment / Re: 24: Live Another Day

« on: May 16, 2014, 08:11:53 AM »

24 is TV junk food.  It is the equivalent of an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.  It is fueled by its formula.  I just don't understand why people feel the need to overanalyze something like this.  It is not Breaking Bad.  It is not art, however much you might want it to be.  It's a commodity, like a Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber song.  If you can't enjoy it for what it is why bother watching?

1909

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Community

« on: May 10, 2014, 01:58:40 AM »

This is the darkest timeline.

1910

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Supes' Must-Listen-To List (Recommend me albums!)

« on: April 30, 2014, 05:22:04 AM »

I'm surprised you didn't like "Janie Jones".  It's my favorite song on the album.

1911

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: The saga of Cliven Bundy

« on: April 27, 2014, 06:56:21 PM »

I'm pretty sure we had a conversation on the old forum where you told me about the shit pit you live in. I think someone tried to stab you or something?


Oh hang on, I've been mixing you up with Ghost Spaghetti. If you will pick similar names, I can't be held responsible for confusing you. Now I don't know anything about you. You've been merged with him in my mind. Would you mind sharing a computer with him or collaborating on posts? I don't want to have to learn about another individual. There are too many of you already.

I'm so glad I decided to visit today.

1912

Technology & Information / Re: Sony's Project Morpheus

« on: March 22, 2014, 06:39:08 PM »

Wow, obviously I always have a little sympathy for people who grew up British but sometimes I see something that really makes me feel sorry for you.  You guys really do get the worst of everything don't you?   

1913

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Just Watched

« on: March 16, 2014, 01:51:40 AM »

I thought it was hysterical.  Ben Kingsley killed in that role.

1914

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Oscar Pistorius

« on: March 10, 2014, 11:01:02 PM »

He hasn't got a leg to stand on.

I used this at work today.  Got a good round of hearty laughter.

1915

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Supes' Must-Listen-To List (Recommend me albums!)

« on: March 09, 2014, 09:33:49 PM »

Can we at least agree that solo Peter Gabriel is leagues ahead of solo Phil Collins? I mean... "Easy Lover"... c'mon...

Oh yeah, there's no contest.

1916

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Supes' Must-Listen-To List (Recommend me albums!)

« on: March 09, 2014, 12:37:27 AM »

Genesis was too arty when Peter Gabriel was with them.  Him splitting from the group ended up being a great thing for both of them.

I agree with you completely. But when it comes to personal preference, there's no debate.

Great or not, I'm still not a fan of Phil Collins and what he turned Genesis into after Peter Gabriel left. Sure, it got them more fans, but popularity isn't everything.

I do understand.  They became typical 80s pop (maybe the prototypical 80s pop group, in fact) with Phil Collins up front.  It was generally good pop in my opinion.  But it wasn't close to what their original fans would have identified with.

My own opinion is that they sounded pretentious with Peter Gabriel fronting them.  Like they were screaming "Look at this great art we're making!"  And of course no solo Peter Gabriel would mean no "Solsbury Hill", no "Biko", no "Red Rain"... I wouldn't want to live in such a world.

1917

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Supes' Must-Listen-To List (Recommend me albums!)

« on: March 09, 2014, 12:26:03 AM »

Genesis was too arty when Peter Gabriel was with them.  Him splitting from the group ended up being a great thing for both of them.

1918

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Supes' Must-Listen-To List (Recommend me albums!)

« on: March 08, 2014, 10:34:27 PM »

RIP this thread. 

1919

Arts & Entertainment / Re: What song is stuck in your head right now?

« on: March 08, 2014, 06:08:05 AM »

"Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran

Shudder.

What, you have a problem with the classics?

Just terrible.

What, your taste in music?

1920

Arts & Entertainment / Re: What song is stuck in your head right now?

« on: March 08, 2014, 04:47:20 AM »

"Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran

Shudder.

What, you have a problem with the classics?