Whole Lotta Shakin'

Today's topic: Blogs.

Some people see blogs as a completely new medium, ripe to democratize the world and send the petty dictators whimpering into what few shadows are left in a new age of enlightenment.

Others consider it another iteration of the same old stuff... many blogs contain some form of commercial (such as my sidebar), and the content is usually lackluster at best.
Even if the content is good, what seperates a news blog from a newspaper? What if the content is the same?

I suggest that the answer lie somewhere between the two. Certainly blogs offer a chance to voice your opinion if you own a computer and access to the internet. So, farmers in China are usually out. No input from them. I'm pretty sure chunks of central America, former Soviet republics, etc. are all without voice. Without the views of the poor, it's not complete democracy.

But it's not the same old thing, either. Where else can you combine print, video, and audio elements, aside from the web? Already Apple exploits this with it's trailer pages (I love those), but a freelance film-maker with no other outlet could simply post his film in pieces, giving commentary as needed (or desired), and get the same exposure. Possible more.

Eventually this space will be tamed by big companies with an interest in the vox populi for marketing purposes. You will be seeing more subtle ads someday. Perhaps interlaced with other elements. Until then, it's something of a frontier town.

With no sheriff.

See above

So, in what dimension do YOU feel that it's right to unite a child and a child molester? Sound like a sorta wacky buddy movie? Like, "The Odd Couple"?

But, hey, it's for the good of the child, for closure, to do this.

I cannot fathom a world in which this makes sense.

And yet, Satan prepares to strike. To give our son up for some ghastly purpose which only supernatural evil can comprehend.

Make the hurting stop.

Turbo Teen!

I'm a Mazda Miata!

You like to soak up the sun, but your tastes are down to earth. Everyone thinks you're cute. Life is a winding road, and you like to take the curves in stride. Let other people compete in the rat race - you're just here to enjoy the ride.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Words fail me...

Many would not dare to undertake this manner of hunt.

More comic goodness

Recently someone suggested that I get a degree in "comicology." In fact, it was suggested that I could easily get a PhD based on current knowledge. This was in response to some small work on modern mythology within said publications, and some talk about story structures.

For those interested in deeply interesting stories told in comic format, I recommend you check out Neil Gaiman's Sandman work, especially "A Doll House." That one still gets me.

For a less dark story, try some of Jeff Smith's "Bone" or Terry Moore's "Stranger's in Paradise"*.

I also remain a big fan of Dave Sim's "Cerebus." I'm sure he's done more since then, but I haven't read anything except "Spiderman" since about 2000.

*I'm loving footnotes today. Also, when the story doesn't involve ninja's or something, this comic is my favorite of all time. It manages to hit all of the right notes, and make the story still seem plausible. Even the ninja's.

The Rumours Are True

I'm getting baptized into the LDS church*.

With that announcement out of the way, we can get back to talking smack about Bush or which comics fulfill our needs best.

*Those of you who think you can change my mind can write your argument onto a 3x5 card, carefully afix the codeword "Barblemick" to it, tear it into 1x1 micron pieces and place it into the garbage. Therein shall my postal gnomes** find it and deliver it to my hand for careful consideration. No arguments not following this procedure will be given such.

**"Postal Gnomes" would make a good name for a rock band.