I’m not exactly nostalgic for my days in the SCA, but I may see this movie if it comes to Wichita.
Category: Humor and horror
Dorothy had reasons to be nervous …
This year’s Bulwer-Lytton winners have been posted. There are a few that aren’t too bad:
As she watched the small form swing backwards and forth from the crystal chandelier – hands on hips, sniffing the air and squeaking inaudibly – it suddenly became clear to Madame de Pompomme that she had done the wrong thing asking Jacques to find and bring back her long-lost sister: for, whilst her coterie would doubtless be enchanted for a short while, the novelty of Janine having been raised by bats since the age of two in caves of the North-west Congo would soon wear off in seventeenth-century France.
There are certain people in the world who emanate an aura of well being — they radiate sunshine, light up a room, bring out the best in others, and fill your half empty glass to overflowing – yes it was these very people thought Karl, as he sharpened his mirror-finished guthook knife, who were top of his list.
But most are laboriously dull, spliced together with too many semicolons and dashes.
The Lyttle Lytton results for 2008 were also disappointing, with nothing the caliber of “In 3010, the potatoes triumphed.”
If you want a laugh, I recommend watching the Stafford County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors in action. ((Please note that what is illustrated in the video is not “fuzzy math,” but stupidity.)) (Via the Maximum Leader.)
If at first you don’t succeed …
Memo
“The Crime Wave at Blandings” is the single most satisfying short story in the English language.
On a related note, there is a new poll in the sidebar.
Update: Only two votes so far? Good grief. You all need to do some remedial reading.
Miscellaneous links
Via a friend: Sex and Flirting in Japan. (There are no pictures, so it’s almost safe for work.)
Lost in the anime zone with John Ringo.
They’re not anime, and I recall posting them on my earlier weblogs, but they’re worth revisiting: Scientific Truth in Warning Labels, and Cognitive Hazards and other modern warning signs. (Via TexasBestGrok.)
“Definitely time to write some AP/RIAA slashfic.” (Via René’s Apple.)
Bonus link: Gainaxing as a source of energy.
Special bonus link: The Costume Hall of Shame. (Via .clue.)
Reviewers at work
Unperfect intervals
Miscellany
Hey, McCain has been ignoring the catgirl vote throughout the primaries, I say Obama should take advantage of this. As a matter of fact, a strong anti-tentacle monster platform would bring in both the catgirls and the Lolis. He could then show show his strength on defense by committing to a crash course of giant robot development. All he would need at that point would be a promise of combat training for all nubile young schoolgirls and he would have the entire geek vote locked up.
On a related note, here’s the most frightening title I’ve heard in a while: The Melancholy of Hillary Rodham.
*****
That other dealer has Geneon merchandise on sale. Haibane Renmei, Someday’s Dreamers and others are going for $5 per disc, and this time there’s no minimum order.
*****
Via Pixy, sophisticated technology in the service of sheer silliness:
And some Leeky Star:
*****
Stranger than anime: the operatic guide to dating.
*****
Yoshitoshi ABe will be in Minnesota in September. It’s a bit out of bicycle range for me, unfortunately.
*****
Update: No. No. No. No. No. No.
Miscellany
The inhabitants of the moon never see an earthrise or earthset. However, spacecraft orbiting the moon, e.g., the Kaguya, do. Here is the earth rising and setting, as recorded in HD. (Via Aziz.)
*****
Speed Racer is probably worth skipping (though I might listen to Racer X). If you’re looking for an exciting race story, I recommend instead the Kuricorder Quartet’s take on “Highway Star”:
Here’s the quartet again with some tunes you might recognize.
*****
Understatement of the week:
Something tells me the commenter hasn’t met all that many nuns.
*****
Give peas a chance:
(Via Blackadder.)
Siamese twins play softball
Ducks in anime, part XXIV
NSFW edition.
From Soul Eater, episode one.
And now for something completely different: Mike Peters‘ take on a Japanese icon:
Wasting time …
Odds and ends
Can’t remember your dative endings? Brush up with The Latin Declension Song.
*****
This week’s quotes:
Want a more polite internet? Bring back dueling!
Kansas is a heroic land well deserving of a mountain or two.
*****
The McDonalds hamburger: death on a bun or balanced meal? (Via Steven.)
Mind if I don’t smoke?
Lunchtime with Groucho. From I’ll Say She Is:
And an old favorite:
Nightmare music
Robert thinks that the appropriate response to Victor Borge is the Marx Brothers. I think Igudesman and Joo are more to the point.