The First British Hydrogen Bomb

Photos and video from H-bomb test sites never fail to amaze. Pure violence, but also pure art, beautiful and comic.

Waterfall Rap

Well, a little vulgar, but still pretty funny.

My Gal: Saunders on Sarah Palin

From The New Yorker, in case you missed it. An excerpt:

Explaining how she felt when John McCain offered her the Vice-Presidential spot, my Vice-Presidential candidate, Governor Sarah Palin, said something very profound: “I answered him ‘Yes’ because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can’t blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we’re on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can’t blink. So I didn’t blink then even when asked to run as his running mate.”

Isn’t that so true? I know that many times, in my life, while living it, someone would come up and, because of I had good readiness, in terms of how I was wired, when they asked that—whatever they asked—I would just not blink, because, knowing that, if I did blink, or even wink, that is weakness, therefore you can’t, you just don’t. You could, but no—you aren’t.

That is just how I am.

Do you know the difference between me and a Hockey Mom who has forgot her lipstick?

A dog collar.

Do you know the difference between me and a dog collar smeared with lipstick?

Not a damn thing.

We are essentially wired identical.

Read the rest.

La Cabina

A few comments on this one. First, about YouTube and user-generated content sites, in general. Aside from the fact that the landscape of content on these sites, and the internet in general, is populated by an astonishing amount of total, crap, whose worth and total meaning I'm not sure we'll ever fully get our minds around enough to appreciate, I am often pleased that some otherwise forgotten gem has found new purchase through on the democratic plains of the Internet.

Second and third, on this marvelous little film that RM brought to my attention. I always enjoy watching films, often of an earlier period, that are able to so simply and subtly convey a fairly complex set of ideas and emotions (humor, absurdity, dread) without recourse on a verbal narrative. The true power of the camera in telling a story. It seems a forgotten art, in today's cinema, at times.

And I always enjoy art, often seemingly of an earlier time, and often of different countries, that so gleefully embrace existential dread as something fundamental to be grappled with in modern society. That some small choice lacking in distinction can ensnare you in the most awful of moments. The mocking of children, the lack of sympathy from your friends and neighbors, no acknowledgment or recognition of your condition from passersby, and a steady, uncontrollable journey to meet a fate you did not desire and could not imagine. Brutal.

La Cabina is dark and funny and, in the end, a little ridiculous. But well worth watching, parts 1-4.

Costumed Croquet in Golden Gate Park

For MM's birthday, 2006.

Anatomy of a Socially Awkward Situation

Quick shout-out to SA, HR, and JW for the charming and funny shorts they have been creating, illustrating the Anatomy of a Socially Awkward Situation. Check out the videos. I especially like the touch of skeeviness at the end of episode 4, "Baby Busted."

The Art of the Title

The Art of the Title, a site that collects opening and closing title sequences of films and TV shows. The archive isn't quite full yet, but certainly enough of interest initially, and hopefully, continued posting of great title sequences.