Morgan Spurlock

Just because there really aren't enough mentions of this man on the internet.

Why Computers are Good for Sadists

This guy can kill virtually without resorting to the intricacies and permits required to do this in real life.

Thanks to Sk8trJack for the link. And, yeah, They Might Be Giants rock.

Those crazy Koreans

I'm a big fan of Japanese movies, from anime to Kurosawa. But I recently went looking for a change of diet and discovered some great Korean movies:

- 3 Iron, about a transient who lives in the houses of people on vacation.
- Oldboy, a fantastic, kinetic movie about a man who is kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years and then inexplicably released.
- Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring, a beautiful, stately (read: slow-moving) Buddhist parable.
- Tae Guk Gi, The Brotherhood of War, a (somewhat melo)dramatic Korean War epic in which brothers fight on opposites sides.
- The Host, a funny, offbeat modern monster movie with an environmental, antiestablishment bent.

Of the bunch, I'd say "The Host" is the most accessible, but "Oldboy" was my favorite.

And in the category of Best Depressing Film, the Oscar goes to...

"The Lives of Others," recently out on DVD.  Set in East Germany before the fall of the Wall, about a Stasi captain's surveillance of a playwright and suspected dissident.  I know it sounds like tough going and to some extent it is, but it's well worth it.  After you've watched it, listen to this Fresh Air interview with Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, the director.  His stories of researching the Stasi and their methods with former Stasi agents are fascinating, as is the technique he used to recreate the look of East Germany.  And you learn some startling details about the life of Ulrich Muehe, who played the Stasi captain.

Highly recommended.

Just Another Lazy Monday

¿Quién es más macho? ¿Un sello o un león de mar?

I'll buy that for a dollar

Rick in Bright Red Overalls.. is he wearing the sailing suit underneath??

Rick Has Been Warned

Rick will never actually join us here on the Crapolian Blog. In reality, this blog is a way to keep his email box from being overloaded. This is for him. But, the guy is an ingrate. Unless I hear from him on this space soon, a picture will be posted. A picture of him wearing bright red waterproof overalls. Sort of like a clown would but worse. A sailing clown.

Sure it's a form of blackmail but you could also look at it as a sincere philanthropic gesture to get him to overcome his fear of blogs. I blackmail because I love.

Solipsism

Solipsism is proof that there's a term for everything. Somebody had to think up the word that describes that he doesn't believe others exist outside of his own imagination. Who the hell was he describing this state of mind to? His imaginary friends?

Anyway, I have two points here, neither of which are covered in that first paragraph. The first is that you won't live forever. This is a concept that I disagree with. Solipsism cannot be absolutely refuted; neither can the theory that somebody will live forever. Until every one of us dies, there is always the chance that someone will live forever. I've always hoped it would be me...but not in a Dorian Gray evil way, just a fun indestructible way.

The second point is that writing for a blog is sort of like solipsism. I'm writing for either imaginary people or just myself. I write the same thing whether you as readers exist or not and I can't completely prove that you exist outside of my mind. Please comment on that and I'll try to determine if those are manifestations of my thoughts or if you supposed readers actually exist.

Disney Buys Club Penguin

If you haven't played Club Penguin it's because you're too old. If you're 6-14 chance are you have. Or, and I'm revealing a lot about myself here, if you're 40 and have a 6-14 year old you've probably played...just for Cart Surfer.

The great thing is Club Penguin is about to get even better...Disney bought them for a kajillion samoleons. Disney wants to get into the virtual social networking world and this is a great target. Kids who love their penguins will also love a penguin ride at Disneyland, will purchase stuffed penguins, and see Club Penguin animated movies. Heck, maybe the Offiical Club Penguin band can record an album.

To me, this is proof that you should be considering purchasing DIS.

Paperclips

Now for an example of BAD marketing (and not bad meaning good). I opened my desk drawer to look for a paperclip, scanned the contents, got a little confused when I could't find it, looked again more closely, frowned, and finally realized that the big red box that says "Staples" is in fact a box of paperclips. Apparently it is more important to Staples (the company) that they establish their brand than let me know what's in a box of office supplies that I own.



I will hold this against them forever.

One to Beat All

Of course, this guy could whip any and all motorized combatants. D&D Tournament coming soon. In true yuppie fashion, we'll do it at the Club to avoid waking the kids.

This Could Beat That

With ease. If the Motorsports Powers That Be would ever get off their collective asses and promote the battle that all have been waiting for we could finally see "BigFoot v. WeinerMobile" in a Cage Match Roller Derby Battle Royale.


I'd throw some $$$ at pay-per-view for this one.

I saw this on my bike ride.