A Montage of Entertainment

November 2005 will probably go down in the history of my blog for most posts in one month. Did you know I could consistently post on a daily basis and, while I would feel like I was talking too much, I would find everything I have to say immensely interesting. I'm sure that feels like a waste to most of you. And I'm lazy, so I don't post nearly as often as any self-respecting blogger should. But, in an effort to make amends, and to post all the links I have been meaning to get to for a few months, here are a bunch of things that you will either find interesting, hilarious, disgusting, or a mixture of the three. If you'd like an update about my life instead, skip to the next entry.

Here is a video that takes the core concept from video game Katamari Damacy to illustrate the human cost of AIDS in Africa. It starts out comical and ends sorrowful. Fight AIDS.
Another socially concious video is making big news. The French Democracy is an Arab look at recent riots there using a video game called The Movies. I warn you, the subtitle translation is a bit spotty in most places.
Definitive Nintendo Revolution Speculation is an amazing website that attempts to unearth the secrets of Nintendo's next console by examining both patents and internet hearsay. Very tech oriented and usually difficult to read, but exciting in its well thought out prose on the subject.
Along Nintendo lines, I am hoping you have had the pleasure of seeing a Super Mario speed run, which involves rushing through one of the various Mario games in the time it takes to drive to the grocery store. The original is done in 5:15. The first I ever saw, and still the most impressive is for Super Mario 3. The guy gets to level 8 in 2 minutes and then things get really crazy. I have heard that these speed runs are fake, done with a game genie or some such, but I don't really care. Their level of stupendous amazement goes beyond that.
This family guy sketch is beyond hilarious, but some might find it beyond gross. It involves copious amounts of vomit.
This is a disturbing recording of a kid playing Xbox Live with his headset on while he fights with his mom. It goes from rude to "if my kid did that..." A sad look at a lack of discipline and respect.
And one more I forgot is from the Daily Show, satiring the Xbox 360. Why can't I get that guy's job?

I hope you enjoy these links because I found them all entertaining for one reason or another. I've been listening to Transatlanticism, by Death Cab for Cutie. I bought it for Talya but I get to keep it while she's in Seattle (Yes! She is in Seattle!). I really like it, particularly the title track and the line "the rhythm of my footsteps crossing flatlands to your door have been silenced forevermore."

Chicago's Past and Futures

Two weeks ago I was in Chicago looking at places to live and places to work. I chose Chicago because A) it has more opportunity than anywhere in Ohio, and B) it is a really nice city. I suggest you visit. You might even be able to stay with me.

Of the places I looked at, three suited me quite nicely. The first, where I will probably end up, is a few blocks from Wrigley Field, the home of the Cubs. I would be living with three conservative Christian fellows age 25, 31, and 39 (baby me). The price started at $500 (a good deal for that section of town) but got dropped to $400 when I said that it was a bit too high. I had no intention of bargaining my way in, but I'll take what I can get. The room is quite small but that's to be expected anywhere. The problem: no girls overnight. While this would rarely effect me, I still like the occasional visit.

The second place is home to three like-aged girls and a cat. It is a ways North of the city (near Northwestern) and a 15 minute walk to the El(evated train station). But, it's a steal at less than $350 a month with a relatively enormous room all to myself. The problem: Don't I have enough friendships with women? The ratio is already like 4:1.

The third place is located in Wicker Park, which was described as being Chicago's version of New York's Village. The tenants were straight out of a movie, one gay black man and one straight white man. They were a lot of fun and Talya and I got to have a half hour conversation with them, which was quite enjoyable. The room is reasonably sized and at less than $400, I could get comfortable. The problem: They are picking someone, not me. And the "young christian kid who grew up in white suburbia" doesn't exactly sell itself.

So, as of now I am going with the first pick because the other two haven't returned my phone calls. My new obstacle is jumping the hurdle of actually leaving. Ideally I would move in on the 6th and 7th of January, which is an uncomfortable two and a half weeks away. And now all the fear in my body is coming to bear as I face sleepless nights and strange dreams that haunt me throughout the day. The reasons I can dream up for being afraid are varied and unlikely, but they are still there, pushing at me, warning me to flee. I'm not sure if the worst part will be that first night alone in a city of strangers, or the days that come after, as I seek out a job without the confidence to turn in resumes.

I have some applications pending, and I continue to search Craig's List, one of the best uses of the Internetron I have ever seen. Here is my goal for my time in Chicago: to find out if I want to do film and video production for a large portion of my life. Is that allowed? Is it ok to not know? That is my goal. But, I am also looking into teaching and non-profit jobs, because I value those professions above most others. The most exciting thing about moving to Chicago is the ability to work on a variety of film projects with a variety of like-minded people. And, after I live there, if anyone wants to come see Oprah, you have to let me know several months in advance.

That is my life up to this point. My Christmas shopping is half-finished. Does anyone know what I could get my 19 year old sister? Let's hope our gifts to each other don't make the Christ King cringe.

I am not overly concerned

I saw a movie today called Edge of America which is about a Black man who ends up teaching a girls basketball team on an Indian Reservation. It was surprisingly good.
The only notable actors were a surprising role for Tim Daly of Wings fame, and Wes Studi, whose name you don't know, but whose face will be familiar. Among his credits are Heat, Dances With Wolves, and his most memorable portrayal of Magua in The Last of the Mohicans. You know, the guy who drank the blood of his enemies? "Magua Agua" we called it, because it rhymed and that's Spanish for water.

It makes me want to read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, which is "An Indian History of the American West."

I'm discovering memes, which are used to attract attention to your blog because the subject is carried over from other blogs, so you get a bigger audience. Basically like a set of questions that all different people will answer, and then you can read them all and see all the different anwsers. Go to The Daily Meme if this sounds at all interesting.

Kindness falls like rain.

X3

I'm back from not posting and from a trip to Chicago. More on that later. For now, I just saw the new X-Men 3 trailer and I just about shit myself. Go Here and poop at the excitement of the final film in the X-Men trilogy. Originally, I was quite worried about this film being at all worth it. It has gone through 3 directors (first Bryan Singer, who understandably left to do Superman, and then Brett Ratner, who left, then some other guy, until Brett Ratner came back and did the film) and usually that is a sign that a movie isn't well put together. But the trailer makes me want it so much. Many people (in other words, me) consider The Phoenix Saga to be one of the most amazing miniseries in Comics history, and seeing it happen, including some other amazing storylines, will hopefully be a wonderful experience.

I will have less about the X-Men and more about my trip later.