cute

"The shiny guy always worries"

Sho nuff, little one.  So nuff...

-steve

yes we can

Barak Obama is doing something amazing.  And it's much more than being a charismatic candidate who promises change.  It's much more than having an amazing chance of being the first black president.  It's more than what he stands for and what he believes in and what he will accomplish.

At least it's more than all of that to me.  Because what Obama is doing for me, and for many others like me, is more remarkable than any of those other accomplishments combined.

He's making me care about America and its future.

For the past few years, I've been giving serious thought to just jumping ship.  The state of our economy, education, healthcare and social security program.  Our participation in foreign wars where we aren't wanted, and our lack of participation in global environmental treaties where we are.  It all seems like too much, and I feel like I would be much more at home in Canada or Europe.  Maybe that will still happen, but I have good reason to believe that if Barak Obama really is the harbinger of change that he, I, and millions of people believe him to be, maybe it won't have to.  

beer + art = ?

Just go here.

Especially juicyvneck.

religion can be fucked

Now, if you know me at all, you are probably aware that I, as an active atheist, don't just have a lack of faith, but adamantly speak out about the fallacy of faith and the out and out wrongness of religion.  If you're religious and your my friend, don't be put off by that.  I still like you.  I like plenty of religious people.  I also like plenty of other people with other qualities that I can't stand.

I'm getting off topic.

The above cartoon is one piece of why I don't like religion.  I know, I know.  I can hear you already.  I'm well aware that this is just an example of how extreme people can get and that it doesn't represent the whole of the Christian faith.  To me, though, that's just as bad.  The fact that a religion can aid in the formation of thoughts that can grow to these lengths is part of what I find unconscionable and, frankly, wrong/awful/evil about religion.  People who allow their faith (belief without evidence) to take them to this extent is amazing to me.  I can't imagine allowing my freedom of thought to be sacrificed to the extent that it reaches levels like this.

So no, I don't take this as the whole of religion.  But I take it as a solid example of at least one of the facets of organized religion that I take to be an extreme negative.

And don't even get me started on the topic of gay rights...

-steve, active, aggressive atheist and freethinker

help!

oh shit

So, there's a good article on pitchfork talking about how Björk asked Ratatat to open for her two shows this December on the west coast - of course they said yes.  And that's hot as shit.

But then there's also this:

That's Ratatat remixing Wanderlust from Volta.  That's right, I'm telling the truth and the audio is obviously not lying.  (I'm sorry for the quality - I ripped it from a youtube movie and had to convert it a couple times to get it up here - it should still be enjoyable).

Apparently that track is from a 4 song remix vinyl white album that is coming out soon.  Of course I love Björk more than most people (ask me about my next tattoo), and Ratatat is dope as hell, but I'm just not into vinyl.  This may make me reconsider so that I can have this in good quality, but the only problem I see is that it may make me want to get all of Björk's vinyls.  And I'm having a hard enough time, even with my 30+ CDs, keeping up with all her mad singles releases and rare finds.

But I do have that radio only copy of Quiet Fireworks that is actually illegal for me to possess.

-steve

obama is the shit

that's all for now

-steve

something substantial

Many of you reading this (all six or so of you, most likely) will remember an excellent movie Pan's Labyrinth.  Well, the director of that magnificent film, Guillermo del Toro (don't forget his production on The Orphanage), has OFFICIALLY signed up to ... are you ready for it? ... direct the Hobbit.  Don't believe me?  The Guardian has this to say.

So I think that's really good news.  Jackson, that fat ass, will still be producing it, but I have all the confidence in the world that a person like del Toro will have vision enough to give a Tolkien narrative the imagery that it deserves.  Fingers are crossed that the story doesn't get fucked.