Archive for June, 2009

foundations

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Economic strength is built on an incomplete, unsustainable equation, benefiting few, exploiting many. It’s growth is based on the shifting of responsibility, a constant thirst for resources stolen from others.

The flaws in Mr. Smith’s theory are downplayed. Resources are finite, very few have access and those in power work tirelessly to keep it. These flaws have become infested wounds on prosperity.

Health care is built on caring for the sick, now turned away if their condition is preexisting. Dozens of forms, calls and mistakes for something as simple as a visit to a clinic. Constantly struggling in reactive care.

More and more our health is profit, not benefit. The manifestation of a bottom line hinders care, shifting a worthwhile endeavor toward a toxic societal parasite.

Religious opulence is built on the metaphors of prophets devoted to the impoverished. A mutation of optimistic faith that enables racism, war and oppression. Clinging to it are those that can least afford indoctrination.

Places of worship are decadent, impressive but hollow. The ideas presented are absolute, based on vague. Followers fail to grasp greater contexts and latch to black v. white, right v. wrong ideas that change easily.

Democratic process is built on few representing the many and ignores many in favor of few. A polarized climate caters to the extremes while the middle is forgotten. The majority buzzing is drowned out by the fringe screaming.

Pushed by industry, government has reduced its power willingly and hastily. Industry has no interest in social programs or education, necessary to a healthy culture. Without accurate representation, most are rendered silent.

Religion, economics, democracy, health care and other essentials must be reconsidered. They’re mutations that must be addressed, not taken for granted.

apocalypse, repeatedly

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Roland Emmerich seems to be obsessed with our civilization crumbling under its own weight. (Some call this a “kindred spirit.”) For those wondering who that is, think ID4 or 10,000BC.

Some background: 2012 is the year predicted by Mayans (before they were conquered in the search for wealth, like Malaysians) to be the end of the world. Considering our current social state and climate issues, they’re likely not far off.

Here’s a trailer for Emmerich’s next offering, titled (no creativity) 2012:

Crazy right? Boom! The effects are nuts. The cast is… well, whatever. The concept is interesting. How will it play?

This could be Emmerich’s redeemer (that they still reference ID4 13yrs later should tell you he’s had a few stale ones). It’ll likely involve some terrible story where the main characters are the only three people that aren’t killed… but an aircraft carrier rolling over the White House? w00t!

Wait, so the government’s been planning on all this happening? Cusack’s the hero? Danny Glover as President? A car jumping (yes. jumping.) out of a plane?

Um…

This is probably best seen in a theater, given the explosions and tsunamis but maybe second run? Or matinee? This should be terrible with a side of CGI worth seeing but immediately regretting. (Again, think 10,000BC)

I will say this, though. If there’s one thing Emmerich does well, it’s destroy the world with reckless abandon. And I, for one, appreciate that.

Photo courtesy WorstPreviews.com. Trailer from Film School Rejects.

bloody mess

Friday, June 19th, 2009

True BloodHave you heard of True Blood? It’s seriously hyped and critically acclaimed. If that’s too vague for you, let me be explicit: it sucks. (Pun intended.)

To get you up to speed, it’s a series on HBO. Vampires are real and discriminated against. Near-blood is created so they can quench their thirst without the neck of a too-hot coed. It’s called True Blood. (See what they do there?)

Anna (“mind-the-gap”) Paquin is the lead, who falls in love with a vampire engeniously named Bill. He, of course, is one of the human-friendly vamps who refuses to kill. There’s also a shape-shifting guy. But before I get into that… how about the positive?

Being on HBO and an elaborate drama, there’s flagrant nudity. The action can be awesome and the character interaction interesting. The acting is adequate, usually. And… that’s it?

Yes. That’s it. It sucks for a few dozen reasons but here are a few.

The thinly veiled prejudice metaphor is muddled at best. Vamps are treated like second-class citizens and their blood is a drug? Why can Paquin’s character hear thoughts? If the vamps are “homosexuals” is the shape-shifter someone with a learning disability?

There’s barely any of the entertaining action. Each episode usually has a charged scene where one of the attractive characters loses all or an article of their clothes but the rest is yawn.

As far as critics liking it, maybe they’re just watching it as a remake of Six Feet Under (a great show by the same creater). Or their not watching it. The writing is mediocre, the characters are absurd and most of the drama comes from watching the cast improvise a storyline.

Take, for instance, the premiere. It’s a solid example of how lame meets duh in a back-woods Louisiana-ish setting. (I’ll try not to ruin details for you fans out there.)

Shape-shifter has flashbacks to stealing some artifact from a cougar he got on back in the day. There’s a sex scene that involves biting and slightly more nudity than blood. Someone’s found in a car heartless (literally), sparking more flashbacks. A new vamp bitches about the taste of True Blood.

Really. Who. Cares.

Photo courtesy MoTechPosters

a rehashing of SFO (get it?)*

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

First, let me address the absurd stereotypes I brought up last week. Gold nuggets are surprisingly hard to come by, land sharks are oddly docile and I forgot to mention Facebook. (The rest are dead on.)

On with it. The city is gorgeous, weather while we were there was stunning and we packed in a ton of stuff. So you don’t get bored, go to the usual place and view the snaps. For the rest of you, here’s a quick breakdown:

It was great fun and a nice reprieve from the day-to-day stress of… well… sitting around trying to find something to do? Thanks to Leah, our host, who doesn’t read this.

The highlight, for me, was attending a Facebook-sponsored event. Just don’t get that sort of stuff around here. Next stop, North Carolina? NYC? Poverty? Stay tuned for all the dicey details.

* If you didn’t get it, not to worry. This is quite possibly the most ambiguous and pathetic attempt at a marijuana reference ever recorded on the interweb. Still, no apologies.

to the golden gate

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Late this morning and through Monday, Girlfriend and I will be in San Francisco. I’ve never been (so many places never traveled to…) and am quite excited to see the place. Here are my assumptions* going in:

  • It resembles an American Australia, founded on getting criminals as far from civilization as possible (until civilization caught up).
  • Most things can be bought with gold nuggets (cash is frowned upon).
  • There are land sharks (patrolling for any misguided tourists trying to escape from Alcatraz before the tour is finished).
  • High speed chases occur, on average, on the hour every hour.
  • Parks are filled to brimming with unwashed, dread-locked Phish fans in various stages of public coitus.
  • Many places smell of body odor. (The rest smell of weed.)
  • Two or three families live under each roof.
  • One in every 3.243 people are gay or pretending to be in order to fit in.
  • Earthquakes hit every three minutes but no one notices.
  • 82% of the population works for Google, Apple, Amazon or [insert other tech giant here]. 3% are bicycle messengers. 16% have are unemployed (preferring a hand-rolled cigarette to a cubicle). (64% never took math.)

We’re hoping to get some sight-seeing in and will be headed to the Harmony Festival. Basically, I’m leaving the epicenter of MSP hippie to the epicenter of US hippie and going to a hippie festival. (One can’t get enough corporatized free love, I guess.)

Granted, as I’ve never been, I am completely could be wrong. I’ll try to relay some true-to-life details once I’m back… If I remember them after leaving the thick haze of second-hand toke.

* Based solely on television, (too many) movies, personal bias and a solid grasp of public-school-provided US history.

less for more, the burger jones story

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Want to have the best burger in town? Yeah… so do I. So Girlfriend, her former roomate and I made our way to the much-hyped Burger Jones.

Initial impression: What the hell? I knew it’d be expensive (it’s a Parasole restaurant) but $10 burgers typically at least come with sides. Still, most of the hubbub was about taste so I can forgive for a delicious patty.

After parusing the menu astonished, we sat in an acoustic nightmare and then ordered. Now locked into our financial sacrifice, the conversation was light. The murmer of the substantial crowd was like turning TV static to top volume so I tuned out and watched SportsCenter across the room.

The burgers arrived on large trays that made the sandwiches look absurdly small (maybe shrink them a bit, BJ). Our menu was as follows:

  • Green Chile Cheeseburger—chile salsa, cheddar, onion ring, cilantro
  • The Birkenstocker—house-made veggie burger, pepperjack, avacado
  • Bacon Cheeseburger—cheddar, applewood smoked bacon (me)
  • Faribault Creamery “Caveman” Cheese Curds—beer battered w/ smoked tomato ketchup

All reports point to the chile burger being fairly good. The Birkenstocker fell to pieces somewhere between our table and the grill, then over and over, but was quite good. The bacon cheeseburger was impressive.

Out of it all, the cheese curds took top honors. They were crispy, cheesy, salty and mmm. Everything was over-priced to laughable but definitely delicious. Save your pennies, stop by every few weeks and sample their entire unvaried menu (it should take almost a dozen visits).

With money like that, you pay for the experience right? Not. Worth. It. Go to Bulldog NE for a similar burger (with sides!!) and an atmosphere that blows BJ out of the water.

Photo courtesy: Parasole Restaurants