Give the wikileaks cables a read or two.

That is, if you haven't already of course.

In general I think these leaks are a good thing. In fact a great thing but that is not the point of this post. Currently I am enjoying reading the pieces in the context of themselves and not in the context of what wikileaks means/America/freedom of informaiton/THE END OF TEH WORLD.

My current favorite is the former US Ambassador to Harare - Zimbabwe; he is at another post now. His name is Christopher W. Dell and his cliche' heavy cables make them go down easy. I also get the sense that he believes in his mission and America's role in it. Whether you think we should 'be all up in e'bodies business' or not 'we be.' And arguing against stopping a mad man is hard for me to do. (even when people bring in the cost in dollars of doing so) But anyway . . .

Take a look around the leaks and let's explore all of the conversations they are sure to start.

I Lost a Little Bit of My Soul Tonight

The Human Centipede is now streaming on Netflix.

In what Bizarro World do I live that I thought that this might be a reasonable use of 90 minutes? I know, I know -- I'm the master of my own life, but goddammit, Gus, why did you ever put the kernel of this into my brain? I now have to live with these (NSFW) images in my head for the rest of my life.

So I watched it. I wish I hadn't. Without the main gimmick, it's a really boring serial killer flick that hits every major cliche in the genre.

It's not as explicit in terms of on-screen violence as an Antichrist or Hostel, but I still walked away with a unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach that has not been there for any other film in my recent memory.

To its credit, this film and everyone involved takes takes itself entirely seriously. There is not a hint of a wink. And don't get me wrong, I like a movie that pulls no punches, but this thing is relentless. It was a dank oubliette from which I thought I might emerge, clawing for some glimmer of light, only to have its final bricks mortared in place over my head at the last moment.

So to sum up:

• Trite
• Disturbing
• Will cause loss of all hope for humanity

Watch at your own peril.

lens flare? why'd it have to be lens flare?

Neil Gaiman made me tear up.

(And be a little jealous too.) This isn't the Neil Gaiman I have read. Or the Neil Gaiman in my head. Or the Neil Gaiman you guys have told me about. It's almost like, ~like he is a real person or something. Or something.

NPR Discovers Black Metal

My biggest beef with public radio's forays into pop music has been that their efforts simply create a new kind of easy listening -- music inoffensive to the ears of well-to-do thirty-somethings who like to donate money to lefty arts concerns. But the whole point of using public or donated money to fund the arts isn't to produce pablum, but to challenge, enrich and maybe even enrage.

So I'm very pleased that NPR has followed the lead of the New York Times (and a growing legion of hipsters) in exploring more challenging, noisy fare.

Hence this first listen of the new record from Agalloch, who aren't black metal in the truest sense -- some say only Norwegians hold claim to that label. No they're part of the new wave of American black metal (U.S.B.M, lol) that frequently melds elements of indie friendly post-rock (like Godspeed You! Black Emperor) and progressive with the traditional shrieked vocals and punishing rhythms of the genre.

For many Agalloch's latest, on the boutique label Profound Lore, is the metal album of the year.

Listen to the record in its entirety at NPR.

This is winter music.

"More like reading a book than watching a movie."

Yeah, yeah, more Minecraft.

That quote is Notch talking about the play of his game. I mean his gift to the world.
Here is the podcast. (Starts slow and then picks up steam.)

Jimmy Kimmel is a proud noob!

have you seen this? (probably)

i don't watch t.v. so i hadn't. apparently there is some uproar about it's appropriateness. screw that! it's a fun commercial. i'm gonna go buy the game.

monkey and pig, not dog and butterfly

what's not to love!

I hear you like computers in your computers.

Minecraft

Great News!

Rock Dust Light Star