Wednesday, September 27, 2006


Why? Because nature hates me. It's not enough to fill the outdoor air with pollen anymore. I woke up last week to find this on my toothbrush. Thanks to my morning disposition and indoor plumbing, it won't happen again. Now I need a little "Keep Off" sign for my new toothbrush. This is what I get for living next to ever-encroaching nature.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Barring postal holiday delay, Wednesday is new comic day. The day when all misanthropic sons of Krypton fully and gladly expect to shell out between three and thirty dollars for the latest dead-tree serialized entertainments. Today, though, as Gerry and I pulled in to the lot at Alter Ego Comics and approached the door, we were halted by a sign on the door stating that the shop was closed on account of the owner's daughter being born. We stood there for a minute, staring blankly into the dark window of a shop known for being well-lit. Even the neon Superman logo was turned off. We just stood there for a good two minutes, like Jay and Silent Bob, waiting for someone to come let us in to buy our comics, eventually leaving to go eat dinner. I called later to see if the shop was open after 6:00, but no answer. (Yes, "Alter Ego" is the first name in the alphabetical list in my phone, meaning I can call to inquire about the next issue of, say, Ex Machina, easier than I can call my parents or any hypothetical woman my age.) While I'm happy for Jason, the owner and proud father, I do wonder what kind of strange fate finds the culmination of human gestation on the same Wednesday Joss Whedon's "Astonishing X-men" comes out. I was even going to buy the new Brian K. Vaughn graphic novel- the sort of higher-end purchase a newly christened father of two would appreciate. Divinity forbid I should have to wait until 11:00 tomorrow morning to get my comics.

I watched a documentary last night called "The Commedians of Comedy," about the tour of the same name. I got it because I like Patton Oswalt's stand up, and I wanted to see who else was on the tour. During some road footage, he talks to the camera in a group interview about starting out, and he said that in order to get really good at something, you have to immerse yourself in it for two years. This is encouraging, as my academic career is now in extra innings.

The Black Keys have a new CD out. It's really good. Pick it up if you like their stuff.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

"Overweight people now outnumber the undernourished." Link
Should I be nervous?

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Last night, under the fog of a head cold and in lieu of doing anything constructive, I watched the movie Brick. I haven't been this enthusiastic about a movie since Primer. It's a film noir set in a California high school, but it really isn't a teen movie. The dialogue is all based on the prose style of Dashiell Hammett, so the lines are all in short clipped sentences. It's tough to describe, but I'll probably buy this one, so hit me up some night if you're bored and want to see it.

I'm really out of it after taking some medicine last night. It's a good thing I don't drive to school.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Since I can't ever actually take a vacation from the warm glow of a computer, I've spent my holiday break searching for music videos. These are my favorites:

Hurra Torpedo- Total Eclipse of the Heart I hate this song like poison, but this version is one of the coolest/funniest performances I've seen online.

Smashing Pumpkins- Pug This is my favorite live performance video from the Pumpkins, and I've seen a lot of them. They did a similar version when I saw them at Purdue.

Motorhead- Ace of Spades Exactly how much rock is too much?