JKane

Wow, it's rare I read a list like this and am familiar with a lot of the books, let alone agree with the list, but I've read and loved all of the top 5, though the whole list is a pretty populist bent. As much as I liked the Ender books, when I read Card's views on homosexuality (he's a hardcore Mormon and supported their prop-8 BS) I got rid of all his books and decided to not buy any others. Major fan of Dune. If all you know of Dune is Lynch's way too cut up movie (confusing for the sake of confusion, as Lynch likes to do) you have to give it a try! And after you read it maybe seek out the longer "studio" cut of the movie, you'll appreciate it more. I'd agree just Dune though, his sequels and especially his son's prequels you are better off without. Haven't read the latest book in A Song of Ice and Fire, the last one was a disappointment, but after watching the show I kind of want to re-read from the beginning... But the first two or three books are amazing, that's for damn sure! (Game of Thrones is actually the slowest, things really get moving in the following book!) Wow, just scanned the rest of the list, I've read and enjoyed a lot of these. And I 100% agree that leaving out Guy Gavriel Kay is a mistake! Cat's cradle and other Vonnegut are great (though Sirens of Titan may be my favorite--*love* the religion therein!). Canticle for Leibowitz, of course Forever War (where's the movie?)... say important things quite well. 'Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?' is awesome and it made me realize why I've never loved Blade Runner--all the stuff that was left out. Don't know a lot of the fantasy books though.

Frida Kahlo?

I went from zero interest in this movie to thinking it's probably the best of the summer! And people who grew up with the originals or were fans got even more out of it. The originals came out a bit early for me and the premise seemed pretty hokey so I never bothered. Until several years ago when I saw that Tim Burton abomination which I'd figured put me off the franchise forever. But I kept seeing good reviews and a friend wanted to see this--and there's nothing else out I wanted to see, so I caved. Man I was glad I did. Other than the one note sniveling that seems to be "Drako Malfoy's" whole range the movie was well acted ("Rodney McKay" is also typecast but also does his usual good job) and very well written. The VFX weren't quite perfect but what was in the trailers is the worst of it, the apes don't live in the uncanny valley for the most part and the animation is very emotive (the actor who played Gollum plays Caesar). The way things come about and it fits into the lore is *much* less hokey than I thought possible.

The divisions seem arbitrary and inconsistently enforced, plus it's not like either forum is overwhelmed with discussion, so I guess I'd be for combining. Then using the sandbox for trollbait/etc. There will be posts/threads we don't want to read in any forum, just skip 'em. I read the ones I'm interested in then click the magical 'mark all posts as read'. I'll put up with skipping several more gladly if the change also unstifles conversations which interest me!

So, anybody doing anything in town tonight, or this weekend?

An editorial cartoon appearing in the Rupert Murdoch-owned Times of London. You know, that manages to be even more offensive that deleting messages off a murder victims' voicemail so you can hear more distraught calls... Well done Murdock!

I'm in! Just need a time and place, looking forward to seeing people again and maybe meeting a few new ones too.

Murdockblock!

You are correct, I meant human history, as levels are revealed in ice cores. Exactly the kind of Scientific clarification that flat-earthers at Fox would jump on as controversy and disagreement casting 'serious doubt' on the main point (even though we both agree on it).

I think THAT is the comparison TotallyOz was looking for. Footage from Bachman and Palin's churches embarrass the hell out of any thinking supporters they may have left but don't disqualify them from office, nor does Mittens' (or clone Huntsman's) Mormon extremism. Yet christian extremism (AKA fundamentalism) is just as dangerous and uses much the same mechanisms of trying to build angry mobs of uneducated cannon fodder. Old Testament law is JUST as dangerous as Sharia and something much more relevant for Americans to be worrying about. Going after Muslim extremists exclusively is simply racism, and Norway shows it leaves you just as open to terrorism. I love this, from the comments on that story: Christian Terrorists. We should ban all gathering spaces, like churches. Oh and those madrassas, errr, I mean Christian Schools where they teach the next generation of terrorists should be closed.

It's actually far worse than this list because it's often a huge chunk of the media outlets available in an area. Direct TV. In addition to the Fox network, Local O&O Fox broadcast stations and the especially (even by local news standards) sensational, shallow and wrong-headed local news they produce. Satellite TV providers in Europe too. Several of the newspapers in several cities. Maybe some radio? The FCC and antitrust should have NEVER allowed him to own so much, he's been for a long time the very example of why these regulations USED to exist.

I've never cared for him in film, mostly because they're often not my kinds of movies, but post-Rosanne he's done some damn good TV. I loved his short stint on West Wing, and agree he was great and is missed on Treme. I watched and liked the first couple seasons of Damages but drifted away, guess I have to watch again now!

So how long 'till this guy's caught with his hand deep in the same cookie jar, ala Spitzer? At least Spitzer also did some good, before...

2 seconds on Google or sounding like a complete arse... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_rail_in_China http://www.google.com/search?q=chinese+bullet+train&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=7Ua&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivnsu&source=univ&tbm=nws&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=iRAtTteeJKLRiALg1c2vAg&ved=0CDUQqAI ...the choice is yours.

You can believe the VAST majority of scientists and every scientific organization you've ever heard of. Or, on simple principal--with clearly illustrated cause these last couple weeks--you could simply believe the OPPOSITE of what FOX NEWS tells you to believe. Talk about vested interests and lopsided reporting of the 1 in 100 scientists who may mildly disagree with some small aspect of global warming. There is FAR more CO2 in the air that in the history of our planet and it clearly has long term repercussions. Even if it didn't, a system to de-incentivise otherwise polluting practices by making people pay the TRUE COSTS of them instead of SUBSIDIZING THEM is simply good public policy. And "Global Warming" isn't about a simple, predictable increase in temperature short-term. It is about MORE ENERGY being put into weather systems which accounts for more and more severe storms and other extremes, high and low. It's a dirt simple pattern to see, for people not being intentionally obtuse.

I'm not well versed in reading medical studies but have to wonder if reducing the risk even 78% is enough. This was during a specific, limited time frame when taking the pills was novel. Is somebody really going to take it prophylacticly for life and if they still have a 20% chance of catching it isn't it just delaying the inevitable?

On the one hand, reporting seems wrong if you know and like the kid, especially as he's making good use of it. The next person may well not. But Seattlebottom raises a good point about the IRS which could be a twofer for you. Report them there, if you're right you may get a reward and they may inform the school. Either way the IRS is more likely to see that this family pays their fair share then the school is.

I just found out about Tim Minchin... fucking HILARIOUS!!!

Can't go anywhere near Weho without hearing the original of this song so this parody is perfect. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjvJU3FSaxg Damn it, what am I doing wrong on the embed?

We have plenty of the flaginistas here in LA too. A mention of willing to be gen often gets through. Or helping a guy out. But I've done surprisingly well without paying too. Oh, and here's a search I use, change the beginning to that for your city, maybe it'll help you find one of the few working guys who persist on CL despite the legions of people with nothing better to do.

Again, I'll provide the counterpoint of saying I've had pretty good luck. Damn good lately, actually, several hot young guys *for free* who are local to me. But you have to be the active participant. I usually post, and the more creative (and explicit) your post the more interest you'll attract. Don't write a full-length single-spaced page but do mention fetishes and fantasies... Yes, you will get some flakes and some time wasters. But (in a decent-sized city anyway) you also will eventually get lucky!

Read those fairly recently (A&E series with Ioan Gufford got be interested) then went on to the Patrick O'Brian novels--which I liked even more.

I work in entertainment so I end up on hiatus or between projects fairly often... I'd suggest a hybrid approach that combines several ideas above. With the job market being what it is, you should decide what job you really want and where you'd like to live then start looking (and visiting the area you'd like to live if it's not where you are now). NOT applying for everything but be sure that you'd be aware if your dream job opened up. Also, networking. Whatever contacts you have anywhere near what you'd like to do, let them know you're available and interested if they hear anything. Get your resume in order and maybe go on a test interview or two just so you know what to expect and see how hard it is (or isn't) to get interviews. If a job you're indifferent about makes you an offer then have your rate be something that would make up for not getting the time off! It is much better to job search from a position of power than from one of desperation later on. But don't be a slave to the job hunt, and don't apply for unemployment right away. Save unemployment for if you need it, technically you're supposed to be looking and available for work. Your severance package would screw it up anyway and once you're on it you have to respond weekly to get their pittance. You'd rather be free and able to travel! You should look into how little unemployment is and for how short a period (pretty sure you don't get 99 weeks if you start now, for example) now though, so you're not surprised. Get a passport now if you don't have one. Look at flyertalk.com and take advantage of whatever deals you can (I've recently gotten 150k AA miles from two credit card applications!), especially if you still have some time at work before the event to line stuff up. If your dream job isn't knocking as soon as you're officially out then have some fun!! But don't spend like a drunken sailor, and I'd also suggest the couple months goal to 9-12 months. Once you settle back in and start looking it doesn't mean you can't have fun. Do some long-weekend trips (but during the week when it's cheap!), etc. Your schedule isn't set so you can take advantage of cool opportunities. The time will go *much* faster then you realize and you'll get a lot less accomplished then you imagine. It's way too easy and very common for people to get a big severance and coast for a couple years on it (then on their savings) and end up with expired skills, little appeal to prospective employers, and flat broke *as* they're supposed to be getting ready for retirement. That's the bitch of it... you have time, but until you know where your next paycheck is coming from there will always be the worry in the back of your mind and the anxiety about spending too much money. And once you have a job again you'll have no time to enjoy yourself! Sucks!