Starcraft II

Just in case you care; Blizzard has come up with a new product to suck every last bit of your freetime away (and probably some non-free time too).

(click me, I dare you)

These games are all named wrong. StarCRACK II would be a better name, because every game Blizzard comes up with is insanely addictive. If I am lucky my computer won't have enough guts to run this new form of video game narcotica.

Book List

Is anyone an avid novel reader out there? I've added my 2007 book list to my sidebar. It contains everything I have read this year and everything I am reading now. This is a simple journal of my reading, not a recommendation list. A recommendation list would be a great post. Maybe I will post one soon.

What are you reading right now?

What is the best book you have read recently? (and why)

Sushi Video

In some places (mostly in Japan where sushi is really popular) there is a new kind of sushi bar. Old sushi bars are like a traditional bar where the patrons sit at a long counter and the chef(s) serve them. The new type of bar has the chefs in the kitchen and they mass produce the sushi and put it on a conveyer belt. Someone put a camera on the belt. It's cool to see everyones face and reaction as it moves around this Tokyo sushi bar.

Save Net Radio pt. 2

I wrote earlier how the RIAA was trying to impose HEAVY fees and royalties on Internet radio stations. These pretty much amount to sanctions to drive a particular sector of of the market. Its just wrong. Being a fan of Internet radio, it torqued me off a little too.

Due to an enormous response, Senators Ron Wyden and Sam Brownback have sponsored the Internet Radio Equality Act. This would limit the royalty rates imposed on Internet Radio to similar rates that other broadcast formats pay; Killing RIAA's attempt to force anything 'Internet' and 'music' into bankruptcy.

If you agree with Internet Radio paying similar rates as other broadcast formats you can write to your senators and ask them to co-sponsor the bill. Go here to get your senators' contact info.

I realize I've posted 2 rants in 2 days. I apologize, I generally try to keep things lower key. It just happens that two things that I care about are going on at the same time. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

I love you too Al

“As for the one Mormon running for office, those that really believe in God will defeat him anyway, so don’t worry about that, that’s a temporary situation.” -Al Sharpton

Just who does Mr. Sharpton think he is? After demanding that, the bigot, Don Imus apologize and step down (and rightfully so), how can Reverend Al even begin to feel justified in making a comment like this? At least Don Imus had the brains to apologize for his jackass comments. Not so with Al Sharpton.

In a statement, Sharpton accused the Romney campaign of a “blatant effort to fabricate a controversy to help their lagging campaign” and argued that it was Hitchens who criticized Mormons. - As reported by Mike Glover of the AP

Wow, Mitt Romney didn't need to say anything to fabricate controversy. Al Sharpton can create controversy all on his own. Just look at all the controversy Al drummed up over over Don Imus. But if someone says, "Al maybe you shouldn't of said that, you insinuated that I don't really believe in God.", he accuses the speaker of political posturing. What a jerk.

“In no way did I attack Mormons or the Mormon Church when I responded that other believers, not atheists, would vote against Mr. Romney for purely political reasons...” -Al Sharpton

Only he didn't say "other believers", he said "those that really believe in God"; insinuating that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints don't really believe in God. Reading his initial quote it seems obvious (to me at least) how he feels about the LDS Faith.

“What I said was that we would defeat him, meaning as a Republican. A Mormon, by definition, believes in God. They don't believe in God the way I do, but by definition, they believe in God." -Al Sharpton

Wow, I'm glad that I beleive in God, if only by definition, according to Sharpton. That really softens the blow. Its also comforting to know that all true believers are Democrats. I'm glad to see the issue is so clear cut, so black and white. So even though I believe in God, by definition from my Mormon faith, I'm still not a true believer because I see issues more conservatively than he does.

So I dislike Al Sharpton, but not in the way Al Sharpton dislikes me. I dislike him as a man because he doesn't have the courtesy or guts to apologize for directly insulting me and most of the people I know. Al Sharpton dislikes me because I belong to a group of people that sees the world differently than he does. By definition, Al Sharpton, you are a bigot.

Weird Wednesday #1

I found this picture in a writer's magazine that I was reading last night. It was included with the magazine editor's little blurb on the first page.



Oh he's so cute, he's mommy's little... pervert?

We know why he is smiling.

This goes to show that everyone (even editors) miss something major every once in a while.

The Mormons

For those interested, the second part of the PBS series The Mormons airs on PBS this evening. The first part will be available online later today.

I watched the last half of the first part, and the documentry is no propaganda film. Every side has a say. The first part covers the church's controversial past, tonight covers the present day church. Take a look, let me know what you think.