Fandumb

There are fans of many things. There are obsessive fans of many things, too. Fans of Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Comic Books, etc. all seem to get lumped together. I'd like to lump another group with them.

Sports fans.

Well, while sports fans aren't considered as "nerdy" as other fans, the truth of the matter is that they're NERDIER. Don't be fooled. All the stereotypes are in place here, folks. A geek with a Star Wars collection is a nerd. We all know that, but a jock with a sports infatuation is a really loud and obnoxious nerd.

Comic book nerd guy:



Football nerd guy:

So you tell me. What's the difference? There isn't any difference. They're just as obsessed and "weird" about their "hobby" as the other. I've also had the argument, "Well, sports have cheerleaders and the that makes it more "manly" than Comic Geek behavior.

Like the comic convention world hasn't had it's share of women volunteering for stereotyping:

I think I can make a fair assessment of the issue, too. While I've never painted myself up for a comic book convention or a baseball game, I attend the Wizard Universe Convention every year in Chicago, and I'm a die hard Chicago White Sox fan. I live both lives, but I've never gone "the extra mile" to make myself look like I need a job while enjoying said activities.

I just wanted to say, now that football season is underway, that if you're painting yourself up for a game, you're no different than the nerd at the comic convention. I think society as a whole has taken on the Star Wars/Star Trek/Lord of the Rings/etc... nerds on a regular basis. I think that society needs to recognize the extremists that are glorified in sports fandamonium. Nerds are nerds. Well, unless you're this guy... then you got real problems:

Pic of the Day

His Own Private Idaho

Sen. Larry Craig? I hardly knew ya.

But I gotta say, I love the irony of the situation.

Christian Fundamentalists Suck: Part 2: The Ben Stein Saga

So, I always knew Ben Stein was a conservative. I knew he was an economic conservative. After all, we was a speech writer for Dick Nixon, probably the crookedest mofo this side of Karl Rove, but I never knew he was social fundamentalist conservative.

You know, like the bigots who think George Bush does a good job and is a good person. The one's that think homosexuals are sinners and the one's who think that Jesus buried the dinosaurs.*

Well, he's either just looking for a paycheck, or he's playing the Left Behind video Game with Kirk Cameron because he's coming out with a movie to prove that once and for all science is out to destroy God. He's got a movie coming out where he travels around and speaks about creationism LIKE IT'S A LEGITIMATE SCIENCE! It's called Expelled, and he's being touted as a rebel. I don't know about you, but I tend to agree. The first thing I think about when I see Ben Stein's name is: REBEL. Here's a look at the website.

http://www.expelledthemovie.com/home.php

I like how the trailer portrays the guy who makes the fantasy crack as the nutjob.

This is a subject that rattles me like no other. Fundies feel that they're being ostracized for their religious beliefs, but that's not the case at all. What's really happening is that we are making fun of you for your lack of understanding the scientific method, and we don't want to pass your ignorance on to our children. I can go on and on about this subject, but chances are, you've already got your belief system in your head and you're like President Bush--with me or against me.

*I know it doesn't say that Jesus buried the dinosaurs ANYWHERE in the Bible. I was just joking with you all. I know that it was Moses that buried them.

Bioshock

I haven't been posting much lately, but that'll be rectified soon. I'm in the process of moving, and I'll tell ya... it ain't fun.

But while I've been busy with all that sort of stuff, I did get a chance to play a new game that came out. Bioshock.



So what's so special about this game? Well, the game starts out with you, in a plane, crashing into the ocean. You survive the crash, and you end up near a lighthouse with an elevator that takes you to the bottom of the sea to a city called Rapture.

The city was created in the 40s and 50s (the game takes place in the 60s) and it's heavily influenced by the writings of Ayn Rand but in a GOOD WAY. See, this society was created with the idea that man is above all and was founded on very objectivist viewpoints.

And happily, because I hate Ayn Rand, it's all gone to hell. The game has an underlying theme of what can happen to a society without regard for others. There's a distopian world to explore where vanity, power and greed have run it's course into destruction. I'm glad to see games move into more mature content as of late. I'd like to see a lot more of it. No, mature content isn't about blood and boobies, it's much more than that. If anything, most "mature" content video games aren't even "mature" material. They're actually rather sophomoric.

But yeah... this game's got a lot of blood in it, too... and that's not always a bad thing.

Greatest Ever: Al Leong

Part of the reason I wanted to start a blog was to not only get back to writing, but to recognize the people and things that make the world a better place. Thus, the Greatest Ever segments where I will proclaim a given person, place or thing to be deemed Greatest Ever.

Al Leong.

The Man. The Myth. The Legend.

This guy defined the action genre. No, not like Arnie, Sly or any of the others. Not like that. You knew you were in for an awesome action flick with an awesome henchmen if Al Leong was involved. Henchmen... Hollywood's most overlooked talent.

Let's go through some of greatest places Al's kicked ass in:


Big Trouble in Little China (Wing Kong Hatchet Man)

Die Hard (Nestle Crunch bar eating terrorist)


Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (Genghis Khan)

And let's not forget the glory that are these fine flicks that wouldn't have been the same without him:
Death Warrant (Van Damage, yo!)
They Live
Lethal Weapon

But here's the best one... Behold... Al taking on Brandon Lee in one of the greatest, most epic, martial arts epic battle ever:


I don't think this lady realizes she's going to have her face punched off in a few moments!

Al Leong is king when henchmen are concerned. You've seen him, you recognize him, and now you know him. Al Leong, you are one of the Greatest Ever.

Lucas Shot Last

I think the internet is going to break. Either that, or Indiana Jones and the City of Gods is going to be the greatest movie ever made. Why? Well, it seems that the geek forefathers are becoming what they once were.

Here's the proof:


It was taken from the set of the new Indy film. Notice anything? Well... here's a better image of the shirt Lucas is wearing:


Now, I've never been someone who's really cared about that particular change in the original Holy Trilogy, but this does say something fun to me.

Christian Fundamentalists Suck: Part 1

This should be embarrassing to anyone who calls themselves a Christian.



Now, all I hear from so called Christians is that this is a very vocal minority of fundies doing this. Why hasn't this supposed silent majority spoken up? If you don't want the rest of the world to lump you all together as nutjobs, you better get on the ball.

I would agree that these people are the minority, but I believe they are a bullying and intimidating minority. They've got the backing of the "President," too. I can't believe in the time I've been an adult our society has become more primative and ignorant.

All of you people who agree with this disruption need to do bellyflops off tall buildings.

These Guys Live Kinda Close to Each Other...

Mr Xishun, 56, is the tallest man in the world at 7.9ft,and Mr Pingping, 19, is the smallest at 2.4ft.

I want the big guy to yell, "Hey, I believe that belongs to Mr. Gilmore!" and I'd love how someone is holding the little guy up like a Cabbage Patch Kid.

Seriously, though... these guys were born not too far apart in China. It's like they're trying to cancel each other out and bring balance to the universe. It also reminds me of Vonnegut's Slapstick. It looks like some of the Chinese ARE trying to make everyone as small as possible. Soon they will fit in our pockets.

Hi ho.

Hall of Insane

Okay, so baseball's got a big problem. A huge beefed up and injected with growth hormome problem. Everyone has heard about it.

Baseball has been and always will be about numbers, statistics and coveted records. Those records have been and are under jeapardy right now. Destroyed and about to be destroyed by known steriod users.* And I really don't care that much. Why? Well, baseball brought this upon itself. Up until a few years ago, steroids weren't illegal in the baseball world. Sure, they were illegal everywhere else, but since there was no rule or testing in place, baseball just looked the other way as McGwire, Sosa and Bonds, among others, shattered records.

But what I DO care about is the way the Hall of Fame is treating this. As far as I'm concerned, the Hall of Fame has a responsibility. One that needs to not only document the games heroes and greats, but record the games history through its good times and, more importantly, its rough patches.

Yes, this is going into Pete Rose territory.

How is it, that a sport, who's love of numbers doesn't have its all time hits leader in the HOF, could possibly not have its soon to be all time HR leader in the HOF?

This bothers the hell out of me.

I don't condone betting on baseball when you manage your team, but I don't say it didn't happen. I agree that the man should be banned from having a job in baseball for the rest of his life, but the MLB and the HOF are two seperate entities. This is basically what the HOF is saying to Rose, "We've swept you, and your dirty laundry, under the rug."

Now the same could happen to Bonds. We've already seen the voters scoff at Mark McGwire's name on the HOF ballot. We know there will be more on that ballot scoffed at when the players with highly questionable numbers get there name on the ballot, too. Bonds is going to be the the poster child for questionable HOF credentials.

I think he will get in. There are probably enough voters who believe that there was enough greatness before the "beefing" to get him a plaque, but what if he doesn't because it's found without a shadow of doubt that Bonds was a steriod user? What kind of mark would that be on the sport? The leader in hits and the leader in home runs both are refused entry to the Hall of Fame. Wow.

I've got a solution, though.

TELL THE TRUTH!!!

Why can't we have a Hall of Fame that tells it like it is? Pete Rose could have a plaque with his name, stats and organization on it just like all the other greats. Except we could add a little to the paragraphs detailing Rose's career. We could tell the truth about Rose's gambling on baseball. Let it be a scarlet letter on his plaque.

We could do the same with all the steroid cheaters, too. Here's the line they could use:

"In an era of bulked up and roided out players ________ was known to be one of the biggest cheaters, but since baseball turned the other way and didn't make it illegal for the players to do, we all got to reap the enjoyment of 550 ft. home runs."

Tell the truth. Be honest about history. Thank goodness we're in the Age of Anformation where little of these types of truths get past us.** The Hall of Fame needs to join the 21st Century and do history the same service.

*Yeah, they're known. We all know it. Don't debate it.

**Ha ha... I know...

Happy Anniversary Disco Demolition!

July 12, 1979 marked the last American League forfeit, but it also remains one of the most memorable moments in baseball history. If you get a chance, PBS did a GREAT documentary on the event that I highly recommend watching.

This is one of those events that really make me think about who we are as a species. There are so many cultural subtexts to be found in this microcosm of insanity.

Here's some more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disco_Demolition

Viking Kittens!

A blast from the past, but I need to have this close by. Thank you rathergood.com.

Live Free or Die a Sicko

I don't get to the theater much, anymore.

Maybe once or twice a year. For someone like me, it's been a killer. I was used to going about once a week, but that all changed when I had a child. I'm sure some of you with children know what I'm talking about.

Well, today was a big day because the wife and child are out of town, and I got to indulge in some cinematic activity. Because I don't get to see many flicks, I decided to see two movies: Sicko and Live Free or Die Hard. I don't think I could have picked two films more opposite each other.

Sicko's a wonderful documentary. I couldn't recommend it enough. I hope everyone gets a chance to see this one, because it's an important film, and it's possibly the start of big things for our country as far as health care is concerned. Do I really believe that this film, at the end of the day, is going to change the United States? Not really. I think there are too many people that would lose too much money to ever let health care fall under the status of a government regulated social institution. But I guess I can hope that it might, right?

There's a part in the film where Moore discusses the other social services the government provides us (police, fire fighters, postal services, etc...), and he wonders why health care can't be provided to us all the same way. Well, we all know it's money. This is a film you walk out feeling mad about. This isn't a right wing vs. left wing issue, either. It's a rich 1% vs. everyone else. Bless you Mr. Moore... you knocked this one out of the park.

The second half of my movie going day was all about John Mclane. Die Hard, in my most humble opinion, is the greatest action flick ever put to celluloid.

This one... not so much.

It's not a horrible film by any stretch, and it's rather entertaining to boot. You just need to suspend every single bit of disbelief you've ever had. The action is fun, but I felt it get pretty dumb in the final act. The PG-13 was rather irksome, too. Usually I don't care about stuff like that, but what I do demand is consistancy. No blood splatters and the lack of F-bombs are a staple of the Die Hard franchise, and sadly... they are missing. This isn't Robocop 3 territory, but don't expect the typical Die hard bullet wounds.

I did learn about the F-35, though. I didn't realize that it was a jet similar to a harrier that can take off and land vertically. Thank you, Bruce Willis. You taught me something special.

East Platform